Category Archives: Ohr Hachayim

5772, Deuteronomy, Dvarim, Ohr Hachayim, Parsha, The Times of Israel

Just Call My Name…

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Ohr Hachayim Deuteronomy: Devarim

Just Call My Name…

“… and I’ll be there.” – James Taylor

Knowing the True Name of someone is believed to confer some power by the user of the name upon the entity being named. In some cultures, a person’s true or secret name is a closely guarded treasure that is only shared with ones most intimate circle. The True Name of God was likewise rarely disclosed even during Temple times, and today we have no public knowledge of it. However, in Judaism, God has many names and appellations that we still use to this day and which still may retain some power.

[the rest of this Torah Insight is at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/just-call-my-name/]

5772, Matot, Numbers, Ohr Hachayim, Parsha, The Times of Israel

Individuality in the Crowd

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Ohr Hachayim Numbers: Matot

Individuality in the Crowd

I have a visceral aversion to crowds. I’m not sure where it stems from. Perhaps the days of getting trampled at protests, with only bruised toes and ribs to show for my idealism. Perhaps it’s the anonymity in the horde. Or perhaps the mindless force of a mob.

[The rest of this Torah Insight is at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/individuality-in-the-crowd/]

5772, Numbers, Ohr Hachayim, Pinchas, Pinhas, The Times of Israel

Personal, Pure, Public

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Ohr Hachayim Numbers: Pinchas

 

Personal, Pure, Public

Pinhas the Priest grabs a spear and personally skewers an amorous Israelite prince and his prohibited heathen paramour in a public display of zealotry that has been recorded for eternity (Numbers Chapter 25). God is then effusive with his compliments and gratitude and eternally rewards Pinhas for his extreme actions. Pinhas has since been lauded by Rabbinic commentators throughout the generations as the paradigm of successful (and hard to emulate) zealotry.

[the rest of this Torah Insight is at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/personal-pure-public/]

5772, Balak, Bilaam, Numbers, Ohr Hachayim, The Times of Israel

The Drive of Destiny

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Ohr Hachayim Numbers: Balak

The Drive of Destiny

“Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.” -Seneca

Bilaam son of Beor was a particularly nasty character. He was no friend of ancient Israelites and rabbinic commentaries depict him as a completely evil sorcerer who was eternally damned. Nonetheless, he reached the heights of prophecy and technically is said to have achieved the level of divination of Moses himself.

[continued at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-drive-of-destiny/]

5772, Behar, Leviticus, Ohr Hachayim, The Times of Israel

Beware the Jealous

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Ohr Hachayim Leviticus: Behar

Beware the Jealous

“The thermometer of success is merely the jealousy of the malcontents.” -Salvador Dali

Since the beginning of the modern State of Israel our neighbors have continuously tried to kill us. More than a century ago Jewish pioneers came to a land of swamps and deserts and with back-breaking sacrifice created a modern miracle of terraforming.

[continued at http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/beware-the-jealous/]