Author Archives: Aryel Nachman
Composition of the Soul and Physical Matter
By Rabbi Aryel Nachman ben Chaim – 20 Kislev 5772 All souls are comprised of sparks. The sparks composing the soul in this transmigration are not all the same sparks that composed the soul in previous transmigrations. Based on what … Continue reading
From Sorrow to Joy in the Blink of an Eye
The day will come when HaShem will, in the blink of an eye, turn Tisha B’Av from the day of our greatest sorrow to the day of our greatest joy. We will no longer observe the day in sorrow, but … Continue reading
The Lament At The River
The Lament At The River By (bs”d): Aryel Nachman for Tisha B’Av 5768 Psalm 137: 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Why did we weep? Was it for our … Continue reading
The Mitzvot – Just Tradition, Superstition, or More Than It Appears?
By Rabbi Aryel Nachman ben Chaim – 28 Sivan 5775 Why is it we Jews do what we do? Is it just tradition? Is it habit? Is it superstition (G-d forbid!). Just as the Torah has many levels, so to … Continue reading
The Shame of the Relegation of the Convert to a Second Class Status in the Synagogue
When a person comes to the shul and says s/he’s Jewish, you take them at their word. Until they say or do something that causes you suspect they are lying, you have no right to act as inquisitors. Whether the … Continue reading
Shiv’ah Asar B’Tammuz 5777
Today is Shiv’ah Asar B’Tammuz (17th of Tammuz), the day when we fast and mourn the beginning of the events culminating in the destruction of the first and second Beit Hamikdash. Some of you may have seen my post on … Continue reading
The American Revolution and the Jews
Today, in the United States of America, we celebrate Independence Day, or the 4th of July as it is also known. But how many Jews know the significant role Jews played in the formation of the USA. On this Independence … Continue reading
Summer Time and The Living Is Easy!
Yes, it is summer and we are busy with the garden, painting the shed, putting in new garden beds, and so on. We would also like to take a week up on the lake just to get away and get … Continue reading
Zeyde’s Garden 2017
Each year we plant a garden to grow our own food and share with our neighbors. We have dubbed it “Zeyde’s Garden”, and throughout the growing season we post pictures of Zeyde (the lion puppet) in the garden for all … Continue reading
Prayer for the Family of the Recently Departed
My sister-in-law’s mother just passed away this week. I thought it would be a good time to post this for her and for others who have had people close to them pass. Prayer for the Family of the Recently Departed … Continue reading