Parasha Insights - Chabad of Great Neck

WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART?

Friday, November 29, 2024 - 8:00 AM

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made, and everything was picked up.

Then he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow addressed to "Dad." With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope with trembling hands and read the letter.

Dear Dad:

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend to avoid a scene with Mom and you.

I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes, and the fact that she is much older than I am.

But it's not only the passion...Dad, she's pregnant.

Stacy said that we wil… Read More »

CAN YOU GIVE WITHOUT CALCULATIONS?

Friday, November 22, 2024 - 6:00 AM

A Hasidic man, with a long beard, payes a kaftan (a long black coat), and shtreimel (the traditional fur hat worn by Chassidic Jews), and walks into a bar with a multi-colored parrot on his shoulder. The bartender says: "Where'd you get that?" The parrot replies: "Brooklyn. There are thousands of them.

This week’s Torah portion Cahyei Sarah tells the story of how Abraham has sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac.

Eliezer goes to the city of Charan where Abraham's family remained while he went on to the land of Canaan. Arriving at the town's well, he proposes a test: the woman who comes to draw water, offers some to the traveler, and in addition, gives water to his camels will be the one chosen by… Read More »

CAN YOU BE THE ULTIMATE JEW?

Friday, November 15, 2024 - 6:00 AM

An older man had serious hearing problems for many years. He went to the doctor who was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allowed him to hear 100%.

The old man went back in a month and the doctor said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be pleased that you can hear again.” The man replied, “Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to their conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!”

The story is almost complete, Abraham struggled—mighty and heavily, he has no children and no future. Ideologically too he is all alone. But G-d promises him that it will all change. He will have a child; who will inherit the land of Kanaan and become a blessing … Read More »

WHAT IS G-D'S GIFT TO YOU?

Friday, November 8, 2024 - 2:07 PM

An old Jewish lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day, a young, well-dressed man would leave his office building at lunchtime, and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but he never took a pretzel.

This went on for more than seven years. The two of them never spoke. One day, as the young man passed the old lady's stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him.

"Sir, I appreciate your business. You are an excellent customer, but I must tell you that the pretzel price has increased to 50 cents."

We are all confronted by the ongoing question: Why the resistance? Why is life not easy? Why do I always have another hurdle, inside or outside, to overcome? When does… Read More »

Is Calmness A Power?

Friday, November 1, 2024 - 6:00 AM

A Texas State trooper pulled a car over on I-35 about 2 miles south of Waco, Texas.

When the trooper asked why he was speeding, the driver said he was a Magician and Juggler on his way to Austin, Texas to do a show for the Shrine Circus. He didn’t want to be late.

The trooper told the driver he was fascinated by juggling and said if the driver would do a little juggling for him he wouldn’t give him a ticket. He told the trooper he had sent his equipment ahead and had nothing to juggle. The trooper said he had torches in the trunk and asked if he could juggle them. The juggler said he could, so the trooper got 5 torches, lit them, and handed them to him.

While the man was on the side of the highway and juggling, a car pulled i… Read More »