Social media is one of the most dangerous things that we have in today’s society. Of course, it has its

Today’s generation suffers from more anxiety than most generations did in the past.  We do not, in general, have the emergency situations past generations had (such as pogroms, inquisition, holocaust, extreme poverty, starvation etc.)  But precisely our generation suffers from tremendous anxiety which makes us non functional in many ways.

The entire world is suffering in some way or another. If it is not coronavirus, it is some other virus. There are financial woes, insecurities, anxieties, marriage problems, shidduchim problems…..there seems to be no lack of problems whatever direction one looks.

Chanukah commemorates the miraculous victory of the Maccabees against the Greek/Syrian army.

Although every day should be a day of thanksgiving to God, nevertheless, since today is considered a thanksgiving holiday, where we sit down and take time to actually thank God for His blessings , it is a good holiday to observe.  Thankfulness, gratefulness, is a very important part of life. If we are unable to appreciate our blessings , we can never be truly happy.

Today is the special and auspicious day of Yud Tes Kislev, when the first Chabad Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, was freed from Russian prison, indicating Heavenly permission was granted to disseminate the teachings of Chassidus, the inner part of Torah, without limitations. The Alter Rebbe wrote the Tanya, innovating the teachings of Chabad Chassidus.

It is very sad that America runs on money.  Americans put money first and all other values second. People judge their self worth based on how much money they have. Would it not be much better to value one’s self worth based on having good character traits, how many people one helps, how large and good a family one has…..but in America, none of that is looked up to the way it should be.

Now, just before the coming of Moshiach, the whole world is a big test.  We are all challenged with a society that is filled with darkness,confusion, immorality, wrong ideas and lack of clarity.   But as we read the story of Avraham Avinu in the Torah, we see how Avraham lived at a time where there was only idolatry .   He was one man against the entire world!

This week’s Torah portion is Noach. This is the perfect time to again publicize the sheva mitzvahs Bnei Noach (Noachide laws).

The following 7 commandments (sheva mitzvahs Bnei Noach) were given to Noah by God for all humankind to keep. The Jewish nation was given 613 commandments at the time of the giving of the Torah but the non Jewish nations have the following 7 Noachide laws to keep in order to insure that they will be righteous, moral people:

God created man in His image. This means many things. But we know, as Chassidus teaches, the Kingdom of earth reflects the kingdom of Heaven.   The fact that we have a desire to connect and marry, is because God has the same desire albeit in a somewhat different way. He created us, the Jewish nation, to be His wife. Does God really desire companionship?