http://blog.thefoundationstone.org Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from The Foundation Stone Blog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:26:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/09/14/ki-tavo-grouchy-the-infectious-smile/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/09/14/ki-tavo-grouchy-the-infectious-smile/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 00:40:29 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=910 We were playing handball against the western wall of Yeshivat Eitz Chaim in Toronto. I clearly remember that it was the western wall because there was a drawing of the Kotel – at that time called the Wailing Wall – posted on the wall. It was 1964 and Jews were unable to access the Kotel. [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/09/14/ki-tavo-grouchy-the-infectious-smile/feed/ 5 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/25/reei-crossing-the-river/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/25/reei-crossing-the-river/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:46:03 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=702 “In the “Judgment” of the Book of Changes, whenever one encounters dangerous circumstances the advice is always: “Cross the river.” One can see from this that the real purpose of boats is to deliver people from danger rather than to provide comfort.” Pleasure Boat Studio by Ou-yang Hsiu (1007 – 1072) We seem to take [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/25/reei-crossing-the-river/feed/ 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/the-art-of-observation-the-sorcerers-chameleon/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/the-art-of-observation-the-sorcerers-chameleon/#comments Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:02:02 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2009/08/19/the-art-of-observation-the-sorcerers-chameleon/ There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, (or) and a sorcerer. (Deuteronomy 18:10) A single witness may not testify against another person for any trespass or sin that he commits. A matter may be legally established only [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/the-art-of-observation-the-sorcerers-chameleon/feed/ 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/reeih-broken-rules-i/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/reeih-broken-rules-i/#comments Sun, 21 Aug 2011 03:45:52 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=686 At 5AM I was at the stop sign at the entrance to my neighborhood. I was on my way to my morning hike and I didn’t expect too much traffic, but this morning it was actually dangerous. A few cars refused to stop. Each time I was about to drive forward, a car came [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/20/reeih-broken-rules-i/feed/ 5 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/19/eikev-in-name-without-reality/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/19/eikev-in-name-without-reality/#comments Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:53:03 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2009/08/06/eikev-in-name-without-reality/ The Name Without the Reality A student who does not study the appointed themes is not a real student. A mourner who feels no grief when condoling with the bereaved is not a real mourner. An old servant who neither tidies things away nor chatters about family affairs is not a real old servant. A host who escorts a [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/19/eikev-in-name-without-reality/feed/ 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/13/eikev-the-power-of-words/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/13/eikev-the-power-of-words/#comments Sun, 14 Aug 2011 05:07:45 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2009/08/06/eikev-the-power-of-words/ In the Analects, Confucius’ definition of goodness starts with the “golden rule,” but he takes his concept further, famously stating that to be good, one must be “resolute and firm, simple and slow in speech.” The Master said, ‘To be resolute and firm, simple and slow in speech, is to approach true goodness.’ (Analects 13.27 [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/08/13/eikev-the-power-of-words/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/11/rabbi-david-lapin-of-i-awaken-on-pinchas-what-are-you-willing-to-sacrifice/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/11/rabbi-david-lapin-of-i-awaken-on-pinchas-what-are-you-willing-to-sacrifice/#comments Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:50:07 +0000 admin http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2009/07/09/rabbi-david-lapin-of-i-awaken-on-pinchas-what-are-you-willing-to-sacrifice/ The opening passage of the Parsha holds the key to understanding courage. Zimri desecrated G-d’s name by publicly flaunting his illicit relationship with the Midianite Princess, Kozbi bat Tzor. Pinchas reacts passionately and in accordance with the Halachah of that time, assassinates Zimri and kills Kozbi. Hashem responds by rewarding Pinchas with an everlasting Brit [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/11/rabbi-david-lapin-of-i-awaken-on-pinchas-what-are-you-willing-to-sacrifice/feed/ 2 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/06/balak-and-balaam-as-others-see-us/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/06/balak-and-balaam-as-others-see-us/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 21:34:33 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=284 O would some Power the gift to give us To see ourselves as others see us! It would from many a blunder free us… Robert Burns: “To a Louse” Balak and Balaam offer us a wonderful opportunity: Balak hired Balaam to curse the Children of Israel. The king of Moab was terrified that Moses would lead his nation [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/06/balak-and-balaam-as-others-see-us/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/04/the-manichaean-candidate/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/04/the-manichaean-candidate/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:05:08 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=365 No, it is not a typo or spelling mistake. The Manichaeans, (the original faith embraced by Augustine), the Cathars (from where we derive “catharsis”) and the Bogomils (from where we derive “bugger”) were early dualist faiths. They believed that there were, in fact, two sources of divine power in the cosmos, one good and one [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/07/04/the-manichaean-candidate/feed/ 2 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/06/30/cutting-up-an-ox-the-artistry-of-walking/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/06/30/cutting-up-an-ox-the-artistry-of-walking/#comments Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:32:55 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2009/06/28/cutting-up-an-ox-the-artistry-of-walking/ Cook Ting is cutting an ox into pieces as Lord Wen-hui stands looking on. He carries out a virtuoso performance – as rhythmic and flowing as a dance. The lord, filled with awe and admiration, cannot suppress his delight. “Ah, your method is superb!” he says. Cook Ting lays down his knife and replies [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/06/30/cutting-up-an-ox-the-artistry-of-walking/feed/ 2