Coincidence, Mourning, & God’s Name — By Ben
There are many things in my life I have to be thankful for. Health, love, and family, to name a few. But there are few things I treasure more than […]
Author Archives: eltram
The Days of Christmas Fast — By Ben
I must confess, I’ve always loved the Christmas season. I like the songs, the lights, the flavored coffees, the sales! I love Home Alone, A Christmas Carol, and A Nightmare […]
A Chanukah Covid Test — By Ben
It is Wednesday morning and I’m sitting in the lobby of my doctor’s office waiting to be called for a rapid antigen test. Though I’ve only been sitting for about […]
Vayeitzei — Is it about the Thanks or the Giving? — By Ben
I don’t host much. I live in a studio apartment, with a tiny table/desk and most of my meals are cooked on a George Foreman grill . Clearly, I haven’t […]
Peace, Discourse, and the Blame Game — By Ben
I don’t think you need me to tell you that we live in divided times. The divisiveness is compounded by an inundation of endless news/media sources that make verifying the […]
Lech Lecha – Above Mazel — By Ben
I remember one day in high school asking what the difference was between astronomy and astrology. My physics teacher, somewhat mockingly, defined one as the study of the stars and […]
Bereishis – Eve Wasn’t Adam’s Rib — By Ben
Though by no means a Torah appropriate film, the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch features a song the Origins of Love. Despite the song’s incompatibility with Torah Judaism, the […]
Bitachon in the Sukkah — By Ben
The Chovos HaLevavos starts out Shaar Habitchon’s introduction with the following idea, “If someone places trust in any entity other than Hashem, Hashem withdraws His Providence from upon him and […]
Rosh Hashanah – Taking a Breath — By Ben
Take a deep breath.Catch your breath.Don’t hold your breath.Save your breath. It seems that when we are overwhelmed, doing ab crunches, or panicking from the throngs of life’s most tenuous […]
10 Levels of Bitachon — By Ben
It was New Years eve of 2019 that my brother gave me, as a belated Chanukah present, Chovos HaLevavos (in English – Duties of the Heart). I had asked him […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 