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Good Morning 11-5-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, shares the following story: “On 11 August 2017, the world’s oldest man passed away, just a month short of his 114th birthday – making him one of the ten longest-lived men since modern record-keeping began. If you knew nothing else about him than this, you would be justified in thinking that he had led a peaceful life, spared of fear, grief and danger. The actual truth is the opposite. The man in question was Yisrael Kristal, Holocaust survivor. Born in Poland in 1903, he survived four years in the Lodz ghetto, and was … Continue reading Good Morning 11-5-26

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Good Morning 11-4-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Who doesn’t love a good love story? Boy meets girl. The relationship falters in the face of some huge obstacle. Boy and girl reunite and live happily ever after. That’s how “Cinderella” works out. Sleeping Beauty is awakened by a kiss from her Prince Charming. Even Belle of “Beauty and the Beast” manages to overcome her revulsion of the monstrous beast, and her love turns him into a handsome prince. Movies used to portray love stories as well. I haven’t been to a theatre in years so I’m not really sure if the rom-com is still that popular. I like … Continue reading Good Morning 11-4-26

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Good Morning 11-3-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Apparently, the dating scene has gotten pretty rough. There seems to be an extraordinary number of young women — beautiful young women — online complaining about how men don’t hit on them anymore. One said that she made eye contact with one guy seventeen times, smiling in the most fetching way she could, and he didn’t make a move. Others straight up claim that men are insecure because women are now living independently and doing just fine without them. One gal went on a date with a guy and proceeded to tell him how much she made, how expensive her … Continue reading Good Morning 11-3-26

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Good Morning 11-2-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

We have all been torn by indecision. We equivocate and vacillate, wondering what is the right thing to do. Noah seemed to have it easy. God spoke directly to him. Despite that, would you have had the stamina and the courage to build that boat in your backyard with the neighbors sneering at you? And when the time came, would you have loaded up that boat and shut the door while the waters rose and the people outside were pounding on the side of it begging to be let in? Same thing with Abraham. God told him to “Lech lecha” … Continue reading Good Morning 11-2-26

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Good Morning 11-1-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

When my mother died in 2013, it nearly broke my father. He and my sisters were there on her last night at home as Mom lay on her bed in agony, but hating the taste of the morphine swabs given to “take the edge off.” Dad lay on the bed next to her, sobbing with grief and unable to assist in anything that might cause Mom even an ounce more of pain. The promise Dad made to Mom was that they would not spend a single night apart no matter how difficult it might be. He would not put her … Continue reading Good Morning 11-1-26

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Good Morning 10-30-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Where was Sarah? We just read about the Binding of Isaac and Sarah isn’t mentioned once. Where was she? Up until this point, she was involved in nearly all the big decisions. Abraham obviously told her they were to “lech lecha,” go forth, and she did. She went with Abraham to Egypt when there was a famine and told Pharaoh’s courtiers they were brother and sister. Same song, second verse with the King of Gerar. God protected her. When no baby came, despite all the promises from God, she was the one who suggested Hagar be their surrogate. Abraham gave … Continue reading Good Morning 10-30-26

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Good Morning 10-29-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Tzvi Freeman asks a question in his Chabad.org column that is quite pertinent to this week’s parashah. He asks what is the difference between fanaticism and faith? We have plenty of fanatics in the world today. We have an entire set of folks who believe that if they can strap a bomb onto themselves and kill as many infidels as possible, with a focus on Jews, they will be rewarded in heaven. In fact, the Palestinian Authority will pay their family if they die in such fanatical efforts. While the official word is that they stopped their “pay-for-slay” policy last … Continue reading Good Morning 10-29-26

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Good Morning 10-28-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

You are likely all familiar with the feeding of the 5000 or 4000, depending on which gospel you are reading. But did you know there is a basis for that story? Both the Talmud and Midrash record miracles of provision by prophets Elijah and Elisha, such as Elisha feeding 100 men with 20 barley loaves (2 Kings 4:42–44). Is the Gospel account true or simply a magnification of an ancient story to prove another miracle? There is no indication in Scripture that the Messiah had to perform miracles. In fact, Deuteronomy 13 warns against following prophets who give false signs … Continue reading Good Morning 10-28-26

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Good Morning 10-27-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

Everyone likes a story with a good guy and a bad guy. We like our bad guys to be clearly identifiable — a Darth Vader or a Voldemort. And we want the good guy to win. However, the most interesting stories have shades of gray. Any Clint Eastwood character is my favorite good guy with a bad streak. Harry Callahan from the “Dirty Harry” franchise is a good example. He’s out there saving people, with no qualms about shooting the bad guy just to make his day. He plays the perfectly shadowy stranger with the checkered past who shows up … Continue reading Good Morning 10-27-26

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Good Morning 10-26-26

I Am My Father's Daughter

My dad used to say, “Getting old ain’t for sissies.” The older I get, the truer that phrase becomes. Getting old means dealing with aches and pains you’d rather not think about. It involves coming face-to-face with your own mortality as you realize there are far more many years behind you than there are before you. You think about, not so much the sorrow that comes with the deaths of those you know, but your own death. It’s definitely NOT for sissies. In this week’s portion, Vayera, we read what seems to be an obvious truth in Genesis 18:11. “Now … Continue reading Good Morning 10-26-26