Lazer Beams

A Glimpse at a Chassidic Bar Mitzva

In Chassidic Israel, a Bar Mitzva is very simple. We don't make tremendous receptions in lavish halls. The Bar Mitzva boy puts on his new tefillin in the morning and gets called up to the Torah (if it's a Monday or Thursday). In the evening, we have a festive meal with family and friends, and sometimes a musician, and the Bar Mitzva boy gives a speech, usually a Talmudic elaboration with an important ethics message. The budget is very low but the joy is very high. Here's a clip from the Bar Mitzva of my grandson Yaacov Yosef, the son of my first-born, Rabbi BenTzion Brody of Jerusalem. Enjoy it and have a wonderful Shabbat!

The Web or The Torah?

Shavuot reminded us that we have free choice - either we choose to be web junkies, or we choose to be Torah enthusiasts. Whereas the web fries the mind, the Torah nourishes it. The choice is ours.

Shavuot: Today You are a Nation

Tonight (Tuesday night) is Shavuot, our national birthday. Happy Birthday, Jewish People!

Unconditional Love

Shavuot, this coming Tuesday night, is the holiday of Hashem's unconditional love for His chosen people:

Mitzva ATM

Our children are our future and the future of our people. Let's be sure to give them their rightful spiritual heritage. But, we can't give them what we ourselves lack. Therefore, this coming Shavuot (Tuesday night), let's make an extra effort to receive the Torah anew:

The Sixth Day

Here's our preparatory shiur for Shavuot: Why must we renew our receiving of the Torah every year? What is the Torah's role in the sustenance of creation? Let's get the answers:

Parshat Bamidbar: Showing our Genes

When Hashem commanded Moses to take a national census and arrange the Israelite camp according to tribes, the Jewish people established their genealogy. What's the significance?