mitzvot

How to Fix a Broken World

How to Fix a Broken World

How to Fix a Broken World Some critics of Judaism argue that the Jewish Bible is full of irrelevant laws and regulations that do not advance a relationship with God. Nothing could be further from the truth. This false argument is dispelled by the book of Deuteronomy, which contains many powerful spiritual messages. In the coming weeks, we will encounter passages that explain the nature of God’s absolute Oneness. Other passages will explain how finite beings can achieve a personal relationshi
Torah portion Devarim mitzvot
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Mitzvot and Spirituality

Mitzvot and Spirituality

Let's take a second and analyze the first humans, Adam and Eve, when they were in the Garden of Eden. Their bodies were a mirror of their souls. Indeed, there was no need to cover up such a pure innocent expression of spirituality — God's image illuminating a human being. However, once evil was assimilated into man, the body came to represent something adversarial to the soul. Looking at the body could now distract the observer from focusing on his or her internal being and instead focus exclus
adam and eve garden of eden
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Create in God's Image

Create in God's Image

From the teachings of Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter [Rabbi Akiva] used to say: Beloved is man, for he was created in [G‑d's] image; it is indicative of greater love that it was made known to him that he was created in [G‑d's] image…(Avot 3:14) The verse cited by our Mishna demonstrates that man was not only originally created in G‑d's's image, but that he also continued to retain this image despite various events that had occurred since his creation. For example, one might assume that when Eve
avot mishna
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz