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Of all the professions, the issue of free will is particularly compelling for psychotherapists. Patients can come to the therapist with a great variety of destructive habits and poor choices. Understanding the underlying causes of these problems may be of value, but actually overcoming resistance to change is where the real challenge lies. Psychologists are constantly exploring the power of free will, as well as the limits of fr …
It was during my post graduate studies that I found myself one day in the home of my mentor. We were sitting together, Rebbe (revered teacher) and I, studying at his dining room table. I don’t recall the reason for the personal session or what topic we were studying. But I do recall learning something that day that I hope to always treasure.
We were studying texts diligently together when Rebbe’s 19-year-old daughter – a young l …
Our Gemara on Amud Aleph discusses the principle of Modeh Bekenas Patur. That is, if a defendant admits in court prior to prosecution by witnesses, he is exempt from fines. Such as, the thief who normally would be fined double payment if convicted, can pre-empt this fine by confessing prior to witnesses testifying against him. He then is only obligated to pay the principle and no further punitive damages.
Yismach Moshe (Bereishi …
If you accept that the Torah’s commandments are for our ultimate benefit, a sin is not merely a betrayal toward God, but even a betrayal toward ourselves.
Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse in Vayikra (5:21) that discusses the violation of denying under oath monetary claims:
“If a person will sin, make a violation to Hashem, and deny his friend’s claim regarding an object entrusted to him or financial matter or t …
Self-deception and unconscious self-destructive urges are confounding. At times, we make best and sincerest efforts to avoid falling into certain patterns and dysfunctional behavior. Despite this, like lemmings, we hurl ourselves over the cliff to our doom.
Our Gemara on Amud Beis quotes a verse (Devarim 22:8) that instructs one to make their home safe:
כִּ֤י תִבְנֶה֙ בַּ֣יִת חָדָ֔שׁ וְעָש …
What is the extent and nature of the commandment to honor parents? Is it to honor requests of substance that bring them benefit, as enumerated by Gemara Kiddushin (31b, quoted below), or is it even to honor their requests that have no concrete benefit? In other words, if your father or mother ask you to pour them a glass of tea, this is honoring their request and brings them a concrete benefit. But what about if one’s parents say, “Do …
