מְפַנִּין אֲפִלּוּ אַרְבַּע וְחָמֵשׁ קֻפּוֹת שֶׁל תֶּבֶן וְשֶׁל תְּבוּאָה מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹרְחִים וּמִפְּנֵי בִטּוּל בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, אֲבָל לֹא אֶת הָאוֹצָר.
One may clear away even four or five baskets of straw or produce to make room for guests or on account of the neglect of the study hall, but not the storehou …
We are wired to chase pleasure, and our brains’ reward-system provides several important benefits. On the flipside we instinctively avoid pain and unease whenever possible.
It may therefore seem counter-intuitive that the Jewish calendar prescribes a 3 week period virtually dedicated to manufacturing sadness. To purposefully drawing painful memories and uncomfortable feelings to the surface.
Isn’t this exactly wh …
Author’s note: The privacy and confidentiality of individuals found in this narrative was safeguarded, by modifying identifying details.
It didn’t dawn on me the first week of the shutdown, or even the second or third week. The pandemic had shuttered our schools and synagogues for more than a month, before I recalled my earlier conversation with Hank.
Hank is a bright, sensitive young man. He is a …
