One of the most peculiar laws of Purim is the obligation to drink wine, and even become intoxicated. As the Talmud states, “A person is obligated to become inebriated on Purim, until he does not know the difference between ‘Blessed is Mordechai and cursed is Haman.’ Excessive drinking is frowned upon by Jewish law, yet here it appears that the law specifically advocates drinking. Clearly, a person may not become ...
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher continues on the theme of "happiness", this week discussing how laughter can positively affect the soul. Part 3 in the "Happiness Series" View this video directly on VIMEO
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher continues on the theme of "happiness", this week discussing a sure-fire and inexpensive method to bring happiness. View this video directly on VIMEO
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The Purim story begins about 900 years after the Exodus from Egypt. The Jews had been living in Israel continually, since they first entered with Joshua. For 410 years, Shlomo Hamelech’s Bais HaMikdash in Jerusalem had been the focal point of Jewish spiritual and national life in Israel. The first major tragedy that the Jews of this era experienced was the division of the country into the northern kingdom of ...
Read MoreAs it snows again in New Jersey, Rabbi Mordechai Becher discusses how one can look at another foot of snow and be happier than ever before! View this video directly on VIMEO
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I recently cited Thomas Hobbes in an article that I wrote, and I received criticism for bringing a non-Jewish source in a Torah article. I thought it would be of interest to share my response. In citing the philosopher Thomas Hobbes I was actually following an ancient practice which recognizes that there is indeed “wisdom amongst the nations” (Midrash Eicha Rabba 2:17) and following the Rambam’s exhortation to “hear the truth ...
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher says that the Ten Commandments are misnamed, and they really should be referred to as this... View this video directly on VIMEO
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I confess that we in the Becher home are coffee fanatics. We only buy recently roasted beans, grind them in a ceramic grinder, make pour-over coffee using only non-bleached paper filters and do not pollute the coffee with sugar or chas v’shalom, artificial sweeteners and other toxic waste. We recently acquired a cold brew coffee tower, which drips cold water through ground coffee for six hours and produces one of ...
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The parshiyos that we are currently reading feature Moshe prominently in the story of the Exodus, the Red Sea and the time in the desert. It is fascinating to note, however, that if you look through the Haggadah Moshe is just not there, he is not mentioned. He is mentioned in one place as an aside – coincidentally. Rav Yossi of Galilee was talking about how many plagues hit the ...
Read MoreRabbi Becher is about to embark on a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and while he will guide his students through the exhibits on the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, the gallery on the Jews will be conspicuously absent from the tour. Find out why! View this video directly on VIMEO
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