Parasha Insights - Chabad of Great Neck

DO YOU TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED?

Friday, May 30, 2014 - 9:37 AM

An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior, the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom, or beauty.

Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom.

"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.

Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light.

One of his colleagues whispers, "Say something."

The dean sighs and says, "I should have taken the money."

If you have ever been to the synagogue during the Priestly Blessing, you know it is a unique moment. The kohen (priest) removes his shoes and approaches the podium, his face hidden behind his … Read More »

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A LEADER?

Friday, May 23, 2014 - 9:21 AM

Yankel of Chelm was always very busy and was always tired. He always told his friends that when he retires, he will finally have time to rest. When the time of retirement came, he was very excited.

A few days later, his friend sees him walking around town yawning loudly. When asked why he is still so tired, Yankel responds: "When you are not working, you don't have opportunities to take a break!"

On April 18 2011 a vicious assault took place at a McDonald’s in Rosedale, Maryland where 22 year old Chrissy Lee Polis was attacked by two teenagers who punched her in the face with their fists, pulling her hair, dragging her across the store, kicking her until she had a seizure. The assault received national attention becaus… Read More »

WHAT IS THE CHANNEL FOR BLESSINGS?

Friday, May 16, 2014 - 1:07 AM

A guy told me the other day:

I just had a call from a Charity asking me to donate some of my clothes to the starving people throughout the world.

I told them to get out of my life and never ask me again for my clothes.

You see, anybody who fits into my clothes isn’t starving!

This Sunday we are commemorating Lag Baomer, the yartzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochei, the man who gave the world the gift of Kabbalah, is called “hilulah,” a wedding day. Why?

What is Kabbalah? Kabbalah is the method of marriage—intimacy, revealing the inherent oneness between man and G-d, between G-d and the world, between heaven and earth, between soul and body.

The Midrash shares a fascinating episode, A couple &nb… Read More »

It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over!

Friday, May 9, 2014 - 9:22 AM

When an ATT salesman rings the doorbell and asks the husband, “who is the master of the home, I’d like to talk to that person; I have a great deal.” The husband responds: Great timing. Wait up five minutes. This exact question is being decided right now in the kitchen.

The portion of the Torah legislates numerous laws in order to protect and assist the poor man.

A person becomes so desperate that he is forced to sell

himself as a slave.

The Torah then commands his next of kin to redeem him from his master. When the Torah mentions the relatives who are to redeem him, first the brother of the slave, then, the uncle, then the cousin and then any other relative then himself.

Who is missing here? The PARENTS!

Why … Read More »