God created each individual with unique attributes and talents, and the ability to exercise free will in order to reach his potential. During the year we may make mistakes and use our free will to undermine our ability to reach our potential. As we shall see in this two-part series, God therefore gave us the... Read more »
Chesed (practicing kindness) is one of the hallmarks of Judaism. It is such an important Jewish value that most marriages, friendships, and business relationships are forged when individuals recognize this quality in one other. The Talmud teaches that chesed is so essential to life that it is one of the three pillars upon which the... Read more »
If asked to list the concepts with which Judaism is normally associated, we might suggest Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions, the Land of Israel, circumcision, and a variety of other ideals and mitzvot specific to the Jewish religion. There is, however, a concept that is common to many peoples and cultures which occupies a central place... Read more »
This is the second Morasha shiur addressing personal growth in Judaism. In the first class, we saw that the Torah attaches great importance to the idea of personal growth and character refinement, which are fundamental parts of Judaism. In this class, we will explore the specifics of how to go about achieving personal growth. We... Read more »
The importance of leadership in business, government, and every facet of society is so well-known it is almost a cliché. The shelves of our bookstores are filled with books of advice on how to become a leader. One might wonder: what does Judaism have to say about leadership? This two-part series on Jewish leadership is... Read more »
In this second class on Jewish Leadership, the theme of personal development as a means to becoming a public leader is discussed further. We will then take a look at leadership from a practical perspective regarding skills and attributes that can assist a leader such as passion, creativity, and being a team player. Finally, we... Read more »
To enjoy harmonious relationships with one’s spouse, family, friends, and professional associates is a universal human goal. Anger, however, is a character trait that can undermine this basic aspiration. Anger can destroy years of investment in a relationship in a matter of minutes. So why is it that most people are quite content to live... Read more »
As we go about our daily affairs observing and interacting with our family, friends, acquaintances, and business associates, we are subconsciously (and sometimes consciously!) making judgments about others, either negatively or positively. Every interaction is entered into our mental computer. We can become inclined to judge people negatively. However, the Torah requires that we judge... Read more »
