Did the Man Who Violated Dina Become Rabbi Akiva?
A surprising kabbalistic tradition links Shechem’s corrupted desire to Rabbi Akiva’s sanctified passion.
Author Archives: eltram
Yaakov Became Angry With Rachel: Can Lashing Out Ever Be Justified in Marriage?
In a moment of deep vulnerability, Rachel cried to Yaakov for help. Instead of comfort, she got a flash of anger. Was Yaakov justified or was this a tragic mistake?
Yaakov Wasn’t a Moderate — Leadership Takes More Than the Middle Ground
The American political divide isn’t just about policy—it reflects two deep spiritual forces that have shaped the world since Creation. By exploring how Avraham, Yitzchak, and especially Yaakov balanced these forces, we can rethink what real leadership demands.
For Choices That Break You Open, The Torah Sings a Special Note. But It Is Rare.
Why does Eliezer receive the shalshelet—a trope reserved for moments of profound ambivalence—when praying for a wife for Yitzchak? Through the stories of Lot, Yosef, and Moshe, the shalshelet signals intense inner conflict. Eliezer’s struggle reveals a deeper truth about prayer: not changing God, but confronting what we truly want. In an age of distraction, this ancient trope has a surprising message for us.
The Physics of Miracles: Finding Blessing in What Remains
Miracles rarely arrive out of nowhere. They begin with what’s already in your hands. The oil in your jar, the crumbs on your table, the few minutes of light left in your candles. We keep waiting for God to start from scratch — but maybe the blessing begins in what remains.
Lech Lecha – How Two Laughs Shaped Yitzchok’s Soul
Yitzchak’s name means laughter, but whose laughter shaped him more? Sometimes the deepest lessons we pass down aren’t our words, they’re our reactions.
Build a Tower to Kill God? What Were They Thinking?
The story sounds absurd — but maybe the builders of Babel knew exactly what they were doing.
The World Calls Israel a Colonizer. Rashi Answered that a Thousand Years Ago. But Why Would They Believe Him?
Why would Rashi think the Torah could prove anything to nations that don’t accept it?
Sukkot: The Holiday That Happens at the Wrong Time. Why it Feels Just Right.
Sukkot always seems to arrive at the wrong time — just as the year gets colder, busier, and harder to slow down. But maybe that’s the point. The sukkah reminds us that joy doesn’t wait for the “right” moment; it’s built in the middle of life’s chaos. 🍂
Yom Kippur: God Will Understand. But you still have to do Teshuvah.
If I broke Shabbos to be with my mom, of course God would understand. But teshuvah is still the only way forward.
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 