Category Archives: Learning Torah

10 Types of Happy Jews

One of the best things about Judaism, which is a religion, culture and peoplehood, is that there are so many different points of access and connection. I’ve found that what brings one Jew simcha (Jewish joy) may not light up his Jewish friend.

Here are ten different types of happy Jews (just in time for Purim!). Which one or two types would you categorize yourself as? I’m #4 and #5. Please note: of course an individual Jew can feel happiness from, and identify with, multiple aspects of Judaism (this is probably ideal, in fact). But most Jews seem to have an area or two that makes them especially happy. Let’s be honest, though, we are all kind of #2 😊

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Abraham Didn’t Post Pics on Instagram (Parshat Vayeira)

There is so much bragging and over-promising today.

We are on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, etc., talking up our future fitness, financial and even spiritual achievements. Instagram is filled with pictures of the mansions people swear they will live in one day.

Even when we finally step away from social media, many of us are quick to commit to meeting with or helping our friends, but how often do we deliver?

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The Importance of Not Shaming People

Many of today’s online netizens sometimes seem to be inordinately focused on publicly shaming people. We wait until someone does something wrong, or says the wrong thing, and then many of us enjoy aggressively shaming the “offender” via an online lynching.

This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Shoftim (which was my bar mitzvah parasha) reminds us of the lengths we should go to not to publicly shame anyone.

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5 Reasons Why Shabbat = Simcha (Happiness)

The Shabbos Project (@ShabbosProject_) is a wonderful idea that is sure to increase simcha (happiness) worldwide.  This weekend (the first day of the new month of Cheshvan/October 24-25) Jews in more than 212 cities and 33 countries will experience the joy of observing and celebrating Shabbat (or “Shabbos”). As a Jew who keeps Shabbat on a weekly basis with his family, I’ll try to explain why Shabbat never fails to put a smile on my face.

So, why does Shabbat = simcha?

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Starting State (Sad)

I am starting this blog in October 2014 in a state of sadness.

There are so many blessings in my life and don’t get me wrong, I experience many moments of great happiness. And yet I’m all too often unhappy. I have been binge eating in secret to dull my feelings, although I’m not sure how much of a secret it is, because I’m overweight and out of shape (I’m on blood pressure medication at the age of 38).

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