Worlds of Wisdom

Infinity in a Box: Why Does God Want a Tabernacle?

If God is everywhere, why does He insist that we build Him a tabernacle? In fact, why does He care about any particular detail more than He does about all other details?

Points to Ponder #19: portion of Terumah, from the book of Exodus.

The Benefit of the Doubt: Why It’s Okay to Have Doubts

A Jewish saying goes, "There is no greater joy than the undoing of doubts." But how can you get rid of doubts when they keep creeping in? It turns out that the best way to overcome doubts is to embrace them...

Class from Rosh Chodesh Adar 5783 (Feb 20 2023), Chabad Persian Youth, Los Angeles.

Womanspirit Rising: Miriam and the (Re)Emergence of Feminine Spirituality

Femininity is on the rise, and with it feminine spirituality. In this class I talk about the meaning of a feminine-focused service of God, and explore how Miriam the prophetess heralded its future emergence.

Given at Aventura Isles Shul Florida, 25 Shvat 5783 (Feb 16 2023)

The Paradoxes of Freedom

When we make freedom the highest ideal, it stops being our servant and becomes our master. What are the three paradoxes of freedom that plague our society today?

Points to Ponder #18 for the Torah portion of Mishpatim from the book of Exodus.

The Secret Behind the First of the Ten Commandments

For Jews the first of the ten commandments is "I am the Lord your G-d". But Christians don't count this as a commandment, rather as a prelude to the ten commandments (which they count differently). What is the deeper meaning of this interpretational dispute?

Points to Ponder #17 for parashat Yitro, from the book of Exodus.

The Subtle Art of Giving Up

One of the most delibitating things we can encounter in life is persistent, radical skepticism: a constant nagging doubt that makes us question whether our decisions are right, whether our partner the best for us, or whether our faith in G-d is founded on proof. The Biblical story of the war of the Israelites with the Amalekites provides a deep and original answer to this problem.

Points to Ponder #16 for parashat Beshalach, from the book of Exodus.

Read on Substack: https://nirmenussi.substack.com/p/the-subtle-art-of-giving-up?sd=pf

Two Kinds of Darkness, Two Kinds of Light

Hasidic teachings speak of two kinds of darkness -- one that's a result of mere absence of light, and the other that is an actual entity in and of itself. Vis-à-vis these are two kinds of light...

Points to Ponder #15 for Parashat Bo, from the book of Exodus.

Read on Substack: https://nirmenussi.substack.com/p/two-kinds-of-darkness-two-kinds-of-9ea

The Ten Plagues Reconsidered: Rising Above the Worship of Nature

The Ten Plagues are considered to be an intermediate station between the TEn Utterances with Which the World was created, and the Ten Commandments with which the Torah was given. But why do we need to go through plagues to receive G-d's commandments?

Points to Ponder #14 for parashat Va'era

Read at Substack: https://nirmenussi.substack.com/p/rising-above-the-worship-of-nature

When the Womb Becomes a Tomb (Points to Ponder #13: Shemot)

Egypt was the Israelites' womb. But then it transformed from a Great Mother to a Devouring Mother. What can we learn from this story, in particular from its female protagonists, regarding today's culture?

Which Tribe Do You Belong To? (Points to Ponder #12: Vayechi)

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