Rabbi Ari Enkin, Rabbinic Director, United with Israel, teaches us an important lesson on appreciation based on this week’s Torah portion.

The extra free time and easy living that began when Noah was born led to the evil and corrupt society that caused God to destroy the world later in Noah’s life.

The role of wine and alcohol in Judaism is a fascinating subject. While a central feature of Shabbat, holidays and all lifecyle events, there are drawbacks.

A Torah lifestyle, more often than not, leads to better families, better marriages, more happiness, and a more meaningful life...and THAT is the only blessing/reward we truly need!

Even the small, routine acts of kindness can be elevated and made equal to the greatest acts of self sacrifice.

This past Shabbat we read the Torah portion of Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52) but this Shabbat was much more significant than many others. That is because this past Shabbat was also “Shabbat Teshuva”, meaning “The Shabbat of Repentance” because it is the Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – a Shabbat whose entire theme is that of repentance.