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Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Priest to People: Kedoshim
Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Priest to People: Kedoshim My wife and I had the blessing to have met Rabbi Sacks z”l with his wife while we were walking on the Promanade in Tel Aviv a number of years ago. We met and introduced ourselves to th
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Jonathan Sacks z”l covenant and conversations: Not All as it Seems
Jonathan Sacks z”l covenant and conversations: Not All as it Seems Excerpt from the book of Leviticus weekly reading: from Shemini We err if we think of God as capricious, jealous, angry: a myth spread by early Christianity in an attempt to define itsel
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Fire: Holy and Unholy Shemini
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Fire: Holy and Unholy Shemini The shock is immense. For several weeks and many chapters – the longest prelude in the Torah – we have read of the preparations for the moment at which God would bring His Presence to rest
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Violence and the Sacred (TZAV)
The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust · Violence and the Sacred(Rabbi Sacks on Tzav, Covenant & Conversation) Jonathan Sacks z”l – Violence and the Sacred (TZAV) Why sacrifices? To be sure, they have not been part of the life of Judaism since t
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Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – Why (for God’s Sake) Is the Book of Esther in the Bible?
Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – Why (for God’s Sake) Is the Book of Esther in the Bible? The Book of Esther hardly paints a positive picture of Jewish practice. Esther and Mordechai are named after the two most important “Gods” in Babylon: Ishtar an
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WHAT RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: Step 2- FIX FAITH, REFINE RELIGION
WHAT RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: Step 2- FIX FAITH, REFINE RELIGION The suffering of human beings and other living species is immense. Disease, war and violence everywhere. We are spoiling and destroying the world. We must stop
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RAV KOOK ON TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE EXISTENCE
RAV KOOK ON TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE EXISTENCE וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU “וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה א
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION “וַיֵּצֵ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה׃ Jacob left Beer-sheba, and set out for Haran” (Breishit 28:10) An
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Leader’s Call to Responsibility Ha’azinu 5782
Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Leader’s Call to Responsibility Ha’azinu 5782 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue t
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Courage to Grow & Finding Purpose
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Courage to Grow & Finding Purpose Finding Purpose On Yom Kippur, we plead with God for forgiveness and reassess our life. Here is a powerful clip from Rabbi Sacks zt”l talking about how to find your purpose in li
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Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Defeating Death Nitzavim 5781
Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Defeating Death Nitzavim 5781 Only now, reaching Nitzavim, can we begin to get a sense of the vast, world-changing project at the heart of the Divine-human encounter that took place in the lifetime of Moses and the birth
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Nation of Storytellers Ki Tavo 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Nation of Storytellers Ki Tavo 5781 Howard Gardner, professor of education and psychology at Harvard University, is one of the great minds of our time. He is best known for his theory of “multiple intelligences,” the
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ELUL-TORAT HARAV KOOK ON ‘TSHUVA/RETURN’
ELUL-TORAT HARAV KOOK ON ‘TSHUVA/RETURN’ Rav. Kook “When one forgets the essence of one’s own soul, when one distracts their mind from attending to the substantive content of their own inner life, everything becomes confused and uncertain. The pr
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Against Hate Ki Teitse 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Against Hate Ki Teitse 5781 Ki Teitse contains more laws than any other parsha in the Torah, and it is possible to be overwhelmed by this embarrass de richesse of detail. One verse, however, stands out by its sheer count
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Learning and Leadership Shoftim 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Learning and Leadership Shoftim 5781 The parsha of Shoftim is the classic source of the three types of leadership in Judaism, called by the Sages the “three crowns”: of priesthood, kingship and Torah.[1] This is the
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PARSHAT RE’EH: RAV KOOK ON ‘HOW TO BE HAPPY’
PARSHAT RE’EH: RAV KOOK ON ‘HOW TO BE HAPPY’ The choice is ours: “Behold- I am placing before you a ברכה-blessing and a קללה-curse. The blessing will come if you obey the directives of YHVH, your Elohim, which I am prescribing to you t
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Defining Reality Re’eh 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Defining Reality Re’eh 5781 One of the gifts of great leaders, and one from which each of us can learn, is that they frame reality for the group. They define its situation. They specify its aims. They articulate its
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781 “If only you would listen to these laws…” (Deut. 7:12). These words with which our parsha begins contain a verb that is a fundamental motif of the book of Devarim. The verb is sh-m-a
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Fewest of All Peoples Va’etchanan 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Fewest of All Peoples Va’etchanan 5781 Buried inconspicuously in this week’s parsha is a short sentence with explosive potential, causing us to think again about both the nature of Jewish history and the Jewish tas
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Leader as Teacher Devarim 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Leader as Teacher Devarim 5781 It was one of the great moments of personal transformation, and it changed not only Moses but our very conception of leadership itself. By the end of the book of Bamidbar, Moses’ career
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Conflict Resolution Matot-Masei 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Conflict Resolution Matot-Masei 5781 One of the hardest tasks of any leader – from Prime Ministers to parents – is conflict resolution. Yet it is also the most vital. Where there is leadership, there is long-term cohes
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Lessons of a Leader Pinchas 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Lessons of a Leader Pinchas 5781 The parsha of Pinchas contains a masterclass on leadership, as Moses confronts his own mortality and asks God to appoint a successor. The great leaders care about succession. In parshat Cha
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leadership and Loyalty Balak 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leadership and Loyalty Balak 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these
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PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON ‘KORACH INTERNATIONAL
PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON ‘KORACH INTERNATIONAL H/T to Rav. Itzchak EvanShayish “Now Korach, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben—to rise u
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Servant Leadership Korach 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Servant Leadership Korach 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these we
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Jonathan Sacks – Confidence Shelach Lecha 5781
Jonathan Sacks – Confidence Shelach Lecha 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these weekly essays
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Politics of Envy Naso 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Politics of Envy Naso 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these we
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leading a Nation of Individuals Bamidbar 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leading a Nation of Individuals Bamidbar 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to dist
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Jonathan Sacks – On Not Being Afraid of Greatness Emor 5781
Jonathan Sacks – On Not Being Afraid of Greatness Emor 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Courage of Identity Crises Tzav 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Courage of Identity Crises Tzav 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribut
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Celebrate Vayakhel-Pekudei 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Celebrate Vayakhel-Pekudei 5781 If leaders are to bring out the best in those they lead, they must give them the chance to show they are capable of great things, and then they must celebrate their achievements. That is w
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – How Leaders Fail Ki Tissa 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – How Leaders Fail Ki Tissa 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute these weekl
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Vision and Details Mishpatim 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Vision and Details Mishpatim 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute these we
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Nation of Leaders Yitro 5781
Jonathan Sacks – A Nation of Leaders Yitro 5781 This week’s parsha consists of two episodes that seem to constitute a study in contrasts. The first is in chapter 18. Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law and a Midianite Priest, gives Moses his first lesso
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Far Horizon Bo 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Far Horizon Bo 5781 To gain insight into the unique leadership lesson of this week’s parsha, I often ask an audience to perform a thought-experiment. Imagine you are the leader of a people that is enslaved and oppres
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Overcoming Setbacks – Vaera 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Overcoming Setbacks – Vaera 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute the
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Moving Forwards (Vayechi 5781)
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Moving Forwards (Vayechi 5781) Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute these weekl
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Unexpected Leader Vayigash 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Unexpected Leader Vayigash 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Office of Rabbi Sacks will continue to distribute these
Advice & Self-Help | Advice & Self-Help
Jonathan Sacks z"l - The Power of Praise Vayeshev 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Power of Praise Vayeshev 5781 Reuben is the leader who might have been but never was. He was Jacob’s firstborn. Jacob said of him on his deathbed, “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, the first sign of my s
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Communication Matters Toldot 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Communication Matters Toldot 5781 The Netziv (Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, 1816–1893, dean of the yeshiva in Volozhin) made the astute observation that Isaac and Rebecca seem to suffer from a lack of communication. He note
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Jonathan Sacks - Answering the Call Vayera 5781
Jonathan Sacks – Answering the Call Vayera 5781 The early history of humanity is set out in the Torah as a series of disappointments. God gave human beings freedom, which they then misused. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Cain murdered Abel. W
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Jonathan Sacks - The Courage not to Conform Lech Lecha 5781
Jonathan Sacks – The Courage not to Conform Lech Lecha 5781 Leaders lead. That does not mean to say that they do not follow. But what they follow is different from what most people follow. They don’t conform for the sake of conforming. They
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Jonathan Sacks – Righteousness is not Leadership Noach 5781
Jonathan Sacks – Righteousness is not Leadership Noach 5781 The praise accorded to Noah is unparalleled in Tanach. He was, says the Torah, “a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with God.” No such praise is given to Abraham or
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Commentary on Weekly Bible Portion. by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Rabbi Emeritus of Efrat, Israel
Commentary on Weekly Bible Portion. by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Rabbi Emeritus of Efrat, Israel Thanks to our wonderful friends at Israel Behind the News Parshat Bereshit Efrat, Israel – The beginning of our communal Torah readings once again with the Book o
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Jonathan Sacks - Taking Responsibility Bereishit 5781
Jonathan Sacks – Taking Responsibility Bereishit 5781 If leadership is the solution, what is the problem? On this, the Torah could not be more specific. The problem is a failure of responsibility. The early chapters of Genesis focus on two stories:
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Jonathan Sacks -The Arc of the Moral Universe - Parshat Ha'azinu
Jonathan Sacks -The Arc of the Moral Universe – Parshat Ha’azinu In majestic language, Moses breaks into song, investing his final testament to the Israelites with all the power and passion at his command. He begins dramatically but gently, callin
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Jonathan Sacks - "Building the Future" Watch Part 3
Jonathan Sacks – “Building the Future” Watch Part 3 Here is the third in my series of three drashot as we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The subject of this talk is “Building the Future”. This series is generously spo
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Jonathan Sacks - Rethinking Failure (Pt 2 of 3 | Elul 5780)
Jonathan Sacks – Rethinking Failure (Pt 2 of 3 | Elul 5780)
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Jonathan Sacks - How to Renew a Nation
Jonathan Sacks – How to Renew a Nation The Talmud gives an ingenious reading to the line, “Moses commanded us a Torah, as a heritage of the congregation of Israel.” Noting that there are 613 commands, and that the numerical value of the w
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Jonathan Sacks - Be Silent and Listen (Ki Tavo 5780)
Jonathan Sacks – Be Silent and Listen (Ki Tavo 5780) Office of Rabbi Sacks · Be Silent and Listen (Ki Tavo 5780) During our first Coronavirus lockdown, there was one question I was asked more than any other: What about prayer? Just when we n
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Melania Trump's Malpractice | National Review
This is simply grotesque political malpractice, bordering on sabotage.
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Trump’s Genie Is Out of the Bottle | commentary
An incident involving a speaker for Donald Trump illustrates the way the candidate's attitude has given his supporters a license to express prejudice.
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Prager: Why I Am in Israel — and Why You Should Be | Truth Revolt
I want to explain why I am in Israel. I am in here with 450 American (and a German and a Canadian) listeners to my radio show. About 400 are non-Jews. We are here on a “Stand with Israel” tour organized by the syndicator of my radio show, the Salem Ra
