February 2012 - Compassion /Rachamim
The Hebrew language is generally built on three-letter roots. For instance, kodesh, k’dushah, kaddish, and kiddush all have the root letters koof, dalet and shin and all relate to holiness or sanctity. Rachamim, the Hebrew word for “compassion” is built on the three letter root: resh, chet, mem, or “rechem”, the Hebrew word for “womb.”
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January 2012 - Joy /Simchat
The Book of Proverbs teaches: “A joyful heart makes for good health; despondency dries up the bones.”
Thank you for your recommendation Dr. Proverbs. Would you like to see me for a follow-up? On some level, many of us recognize that good health and happiness are interrelated. And yet, achieving a level of “joy” / simchat can seem illusive. Read more of this article...
December 2011 - Generosity /N’divut
The model for generosity /n’divutis a natural choice for our focus on Jewish values for the month of December.It is during this month that Americans from many religious and cultural backgrounds flex their “generosity muscles.” Though some might be tight with their hearts or wallets at other times of the year, it is at this time that we tend to reach out to family members, friends, and even to those in need that we do not know. Read more of this article...
November 2011 - Welcoming Guests /Hachnasat Orchim
The model for Welcoming Guests /Hachnasat Orchimis provided by our ancestor Abraham. In our Torah we are told that he would run out to welcome travelers passing by his tent. He would prepare lavish measls, care for their camels, and even entertain them before they continued on their way. ... Read more of this article...
October 2011 - Strength /g’vurah
Whether it is the fasting, the full day of services, or the break in routine from our everyday life, Yom Kippur often proves to be a test of strength for many of us. How will we make it through this day? Even just thinking about Yom Kippur leaves us with hunger pangs. ... Read more of this article...
September 2011 - Enthusiasm /Z'rizut
Since the advent of the DVR and the ability to pause live TV, I rarely watch a commercial. Sometimes, I am simply eager to get to the next scene in the show. At other times, I see my time as a precious commodity and would rather watch the show than the filler commercials... Read more of this article...
May 2011 - Modesty /Tzniut
I took my first trip to Israel during the summer before my senior year in high school. I remember diligently going through my packing list for this 6 week trip and making sure that I would notforget a thing - we were warned that the prices would be much higher in Israel. I especially remember that boys and girls had different requirements for clothing. In particular, the girls on the tripwere supposed to bring "modest" clothing for trips to religious sites. And inded, when we entered certain synagogues, mosques, churches and neighborhoods, there were signs not-so-gently warning of "appropriate" clothing. Read more of this article...
April 2011 - Patience /Savlanut
Do you remember when overnight mail made its debut? It amazed us that we could get a package from coast to coast in 24 hours. The fax machine picked up the pace even more. We could feed a piece of paper into a machine in our office, hear the beeps at the target destination and within a few minutes, our print out could transfer from our hand to a recipient miles away. Email brought a whole new dimension to the speed at which we communicate. A push of a button and our message zoomed from one computer to another. Read more of this article...
March 2011 - Honor /Kavod
The month of March at TAE is devoted to the Jewish value of “Honor / Kavod.” How many of us love to “people watch?” Airports, malls, maybe even synagogues become viewing centers. We take on the role of expert observer and cast unsuspecting souls as our research subjects. And we judge, and we judge, and we judge. Wow! Who are we to do this? And yet, we make a sport of it. Read more of this article . . .
February 2011 - Kindness /Chesed
When we return our torah to the ark, we often sing the following words, “Al sh’losha d’varim, ha-olam omed: al ha-Torah, v’al ha-Avodah, v’al gimilut chasadim” (poetically translated as, “The world is sustained by three things: Torah study, service to God, and acts of chesed.) We often translate chesed as “loving kindness,” but this only gets us half way there. Read more of this article . . .
December 2010 & January 2011 - Simplicity /Histap'kut
In a season that is increasingly marked by gifts and giving, the Jewish value of “simplicity / histap’kut” may seem a bit out of touch. To be clear, Judaism has nothing against purchasing material goods and enjoying the pleasures of the world. Read more of this article . . .
November 2010 – Gratitude /Hakarat Hatov
The term “gratitude” in Hebrew is translated as “recognizing the good / hakarat hatov.” Some of us tend to take “the good” for granted. We might pay little notice to our good health until we get sick. We might give little time to a relationship until we experience a loss. Read more of this article . . .
October 2010 – Humility / Anavah
In a Jewish understanding of this trait, however, humility actually exists on a spectrum. On one side there is certainly the notion that humility requires one to take a step back from the spotlight. However, our Sages caution that we should not shrink so much that we actually disappear... Read more of this article . . .
September 2010 – Forgiveness / Slichah
For everyone repentance and forgiveness are the central themes of our High Holy Days. Jewish tradition teaches that repentance requires a real change in our behavior and an apology. Read more of this article . . .
