The little Jew said, “I think I can, I think I can”

Say the words with the intent of reaching truth in your heart See the letters as worlds in themselves and expand them, draw them out and they will shine for you. When your prayer brings you to joy, know it is accepted. People think by praying slowly their prayer is more devout but usually it just leads them [...]

As you know, I am now working out 3x a week at the gym for good health and balance. Also as an experiment to see if excellent physical health will increase my spiritual stability.

This week I have pushed myself to the next level of good eating. My diet consists of a balanced Kosher diet [...]

It could be that the most important job of a Reb is to show a person that you believe in them. In fact, this may be the greatest thing one can do for ones children or friends. Every person has a special talent and spark in which they can not only grow from but can [...]

A person has to dream and see themselves going from darkness to light. Through positive thoughts alone, one can change their life and mazel. They can become someone totally different.

When I used to do artistic photography, I used a rare and classic system called the Zone System. The system was based on the idea [...]

Chatzos, Midnight (written by Rabbi Akiva’s grave) 1. The first few minutes of chatzos as the most beneficial 2. Before reciting the Tikkun, praise Hashem (through your own words or from Psalms 145-150) and be joyous in the holiness of this hour. 3. Even the mere thought of the Shechinah and Bais Hamikdosh at this hour is very great. 4. [...]

I was a bit quiet this week but I didn’t write some new pages of Torah for the new book. I’m also discussing with a few people about editing. It has come to my attention that I need to make a hebrew version of ilovetorah so I am looking for someone to do some good [...]

This week is klezmer week in Tzfat and when I hear some of the music, I am saddened. Music is supposed to uplift and bring people closer to Hashem. Sometimes musicians are more into the fancy quick key touches & attention then they are at really trying to inspire people. It is my personal belief [...]

I can’t say I have any deep thoughts this week. It is only Tuesday and I am already contemplating the Shabbos. The idea of running away, hidding, relaxing from an otherwise, confusing world.

Guest houses and hotels in northern Israel are operating at 95% capacity this week. This is especially so in Tzfat. In fact, it is so busy my friend begged me to drive him today so he wouldn’t have to deal with the traffic. I guess for some of us, we have no time for vacations [...]

Today I did a video shir, class on gemarah, Talmud at the idra and wrote some new passages for the new book. I wish everyone a good shabbos.

Question of the day: Are Krocks appropriate to wear on Shabbos?

A Jewish persons day starts out at nightfall. At the changes of the watches, which is the separation between day and night. These time periods of change which happen throughout the twenty four hour period have tremendous spiritual ramifications due to their depth. Therefore, we must not ignore its significance and utilize this time wisely. [...]

It is good to learn or pray standing from time to time to increase Devekus Open your eyes in the mikvah to purify them from seeing that which is unholy Think about the 4 compartments in the Tefillin & how they compare to the 4 letter name Confess your sins regularly at the grave of a Tzaddik Always keep [...]

Finding the Truth is Easy but changing the reality into something true is far more difficult. As a little bit of a Kotzker, I find myself constantly searching but as soon as I see the reality, I am forced to run. This is because change is hard, it surmounts to a tremendous amount of work. [...]

My wife can’t believe how upset I am at the Georgia Crisis. I can’t stop thinking about it. It really upsets me the aggression from Russia and I worry for many Jews still trapped there. I don’t think anyone expected Russia to act in this way. It is all from Hashem but for us Jews, [...]

We make havdalah just by saying the blessing over the candle. Until midday, we sit only on low chairs and put our matrices on the ground. In our regular weekday prayer cloths, we head to the synagogue, wearing slippers or non leather shoes. Food does not touch our pallet as we are in pain from [...]