Judah's stirring speech to his brother Joseph still inspires us today. View this video directly on VIMEO
Read MoreRabbi Mordechai Becher explains that it is the failure (the darkness) that produces the greatest success (light). As the Gemora says, "because I fell, that is why I got up!" View this video directly on Vimeo.
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The fast day of the 10th of Tevet is approaching, so before I discuss its history, just a brief introduction to the idea of fasting in general. Six days a year we are forbidden to eat or drink. About eighty days of the year we are commanded to feast — a 13 to 1 ratio of feasting to fasting. Rather than being ascetic, Judaism clearly rejoices in life and seeks ...
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Chanukah is a celebration of the miracle of Jewish spiritual survival. After millennia of attempts to assimilate us, whether through force or persuasion, we are still here. But, it is not mere physical survival that we celebrate. After all, the genes of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Greeks have also physically survived. The miracle of Jewish survival is that we have survived with our spiritual heritage intact. When we ...
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – By the Light…Of the Silvery Menorah – Chanukah 5779
Rabbi Mordechai Becher explains several Chanukah symbols and traditions, and also how everything is really a miracle. View this video directly on Vimeo.
Read MoreWhen something good happens to us, we need to recognize that the good ultimately comes from G-d - as He lifts up the "curtain" and plays "peek-a-boo" with us - and give thanks to Him. View this video directly on VIMEO
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Chanukah begins on Sunday night (Dec 2, 2018) so here is a little historical introduction to the Chanukah festival, to which we will hopefully add some spiritual insights in the coming weeks. Approximately 200 years before the events of Chanukah, hundreds of thousands of Jews returned from the Babylonian exile to the Land of Israel. In time, they rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem and established an independent Jewish monarchy. Meanwhile in ...
Read MoreG-d wants us to go beyond our personal comfort zone - to take spiritual risks. View this video directly on Vimeo.
Read MoreWhen we climb an incredibly tall ladder, we must climb it one rung at a time. If we look down or up, we might get frightened and discouraged. Harry Rothenberg suggests we take this lesson into life, and also work on improving ourselves during any spare moment we have, just a little bit each time. View this video directly on VIMEO
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Angels Ascending and Angels Descending – Vayeitzei 5779
Jacob lost his Angels when he was on his way out of Israel, because it all depends on where one is headed. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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In this week’s parsha, VaYetzei, Jacob has a vision of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, on which angels ascend and descend. At the top of the ladder, in his dream, he “sees” G-d standing over him. Now, there are many, many prophetic visions in the Torah, and many expressions that seem to assign some type of form or even body to G-d. We always understand these as allegory and ...
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