One of the most notable differences between Israel and America is how Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) is celebrated. While I have no doubt that many in the...
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![Educating Our Children On Community, Faith, Love, and Grief – Yom Hazikaron תשפ׳׳ד – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/05/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-28.png)
![Cultivating Shabbos Sanctity: Nurturing Holiness and Divine Connection in Children – Parenting in the Parsha – Kedoshim – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/05/Cultivating-Shabbos-Sanctity-Nurturing-Holiness-and-Divine-Connection-in-Children-385-x-300-px-1.png)
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם קְדשִׁ֣ים תִּֽהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֹ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם: Speak to the entire congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy,...
![Boundaries of Oneness: Lessons from Nadav and Avihu for Healthy Relationships – Achrei Mos – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/05/White-and-blue-national-puzzle-day-instagram-post-385-x-300-px.png)
וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר יְהוָֹה֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מ֔וֹת שְׁנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י אַֽהֲרֹ֑ן בְּקָרְבָתָ֥ם לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָֹ֖ה וַיָּמֻֽתוּ: And the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they drew near before the...
![Parenting Lessons from Tzara’as: Building Homes of Connection and Community – Tazria – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/04/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-26.png)
In describing the affliction of tzara’as, the Torah uses the peculiar language of ונתתי, which literally means “and I give.” This seems to imply that by placing tzara’as on...
![Allowing our Children to be their Imperfect Selves – Tazria – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/04/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-25.png)
וּבִמְלֹ֣את | יְמֵ֣י טָֽהֳרָ֗הּ לְבֵן֘ א֣וֹ לְבַת֒ תָּבִ֞יא כֶּ֤בֶשׂ בֶּן־שְׁנָתוֹ֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וּבֶן־יוֹנָ֥ה אוֹ־תֹ֖ר לְחַטָּ֑את אֶל־פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן: And when the days of her purification have been completed, whether for a...
![Raising Our Children in Their Unique Way – Shemini – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/04/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-23.png)
Several weeks ago my wife and I had the distinct privilege to attend a Chizzuk Mission Shabbaton (led by the one and only Mrs. Barrie Feld!) in Yerushalayim. I...
![Anchored in the Past, Parenting in the Present – Parshas Tzav – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/03/Black-and-White-Fashion-and-Lifestyle-Instagram-Story-Template-with-Two-Images-of-a-Woman-and-Website-Address-385-x-300-px-1.png)
וְלָבַ֨שׁ הַכֹּהֵ֜ן מִדּ֣וֹ בַ֗ד וּמִכְנְסֵי־בַד֘ יִלְבַּ֣שׁ עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ֒ וְהֵרִ֣ים אֶת־הַדֶּ֗שֶׁן אֲשֶׁ֨ר תֹּאכַ֥ל הָאֵ֛שׁ אֶת־הָֽעֹלָ֖ה עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְשָׂמ֕וֹ אֵ֖צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ: וּפָשַׁט֙ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֔יו וְלָבַ֖שׁ בְּגָדִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֑ים וְהוֹצִ֤יא אֶת־הַדֶּ֨שֶׁן֙ אֶל־מִח֣וּץ לַמַּֽחֲנֶ֔ה אֶל־מָק֖וֹם טָהֽוֹר: And the...
![The Sensitive Balance of פורים this year – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/03/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-20.png)
Chazal (Megillah 2a) teach us that the Megillah can be read on the 11th through the 15th of Adar. What is the source for this Halacha? The Megillah itself...
![Love Thy Going Off/On The Derech Child With All Thy Heart – Parshas Pekudei – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/03/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-19.png)
וַיְהִ֗י מְאַת֙ כִּכַּ֣ר הַכֶּ֔סֶף לָצֶ֗קֶת אֵ֚ת אַדְנֵ֣י הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְאֵ֖ת אַדְנֵ֣י הַפָּרֹ֑כֶת מְאַ֧ת אֲדָנִ֛ים לִמְאַ֥ת הַכִּכָּ֖ר כִּכָּ֥ר לָאָֽדֶן: וְאֶת־הָאֶ֜לֶף וּשְׁבַ֤ע הַמֵּאוֹת֙ וַֽחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה וְשִׁבְעִ֔ים עָשָׂ֥ה וָוִ֖ים לָֽעַמּוּדִ֑ים וְצִפָּ֥ה רָֽאשֵׁיהֶ֖ם וְחִשַּׁ֥ק אֹתָֽם: One...
![Raising Children to Believe In Themselves – Parshas Vayakhel – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/03/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-385-x-300-px.png)
וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת נָתַ֣ן בְּלִבּ֑וֹ ה֕וּא וְאָֽהֳלִיאָ֥ב בֶּן־אֲחִֽיסָמָ֖ךְ לְמַטֵּה־דָֽן: And He put into his heart to teach, both him and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan....
![Parenting the Stiff Necked Child from the Stick Necked Nation – Ki Tisa – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/02/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-16.png)
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֑ה רָאִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף הֽוּא: And the Lord said to Moses: "I have seen this people and behold! they are a stiff necked people. (Shemos 32:9) וַיְמַהֵ֖ר...
![Showing Our Children our Proverbial Tzitz – Maintaining a Focus on Life with Hashem – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/02/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-13.png)
וְהָיָה֘ עַל־מֵ֣צַח אַֽהֲרֹן֒ וְנָשָׂ֨א אַֽהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַקְדִּ֨ישׁוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְכָל־מַתְּנֹ֖ת קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה עַל־מִצְחוֹ֙ תָּמִ֔יד לְרָצ֥וֹן לָהֶ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה: It shall be upon Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall bear...
![Making Our Homes Into a Mikdash Me’at – Parshas Terumah – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/02/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-12.png)
בְּטַבְּעֹת֙ הָֽאָרֹ֔ן יִֽהְי֖וּ הַבַּדִּ֑ים לֹ֥א יָסֻ֖רוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ: The poles of the ark shall be in the rings; they shall not be removed from it. (Shemos 25:15) Parshas Terumah begins with the...
![Discipline with Love – Parenting in the Parsha – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/02/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-10.png)
כִּ֤י תִקְנֶה֙ עֶ֣בֶד עִבְרִ֔י שֵׁ֥שׁ שָׁנִ֖ים יַֽעֲבֹ֑ד וּבַ֨שְּׁבִעִ֔ת יֵצֵ֥א לַֽחָפְשִׁ֖י חִנָּֽם: Should you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall work six years, and in the seventh , he shall...
![Parenting in the Parsha – Yisro – Rabbi Yair Menchel](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/02/Parenting-in-the-Parsha-385-x-300-px-1.png)
Parshat Yitro Sibling rivalry is something that exists in every home, it started in the תורה when the first sibling was born with קין...
![“And Yisro Heard” – Active Listening with Our Children – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-9.png)
וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן משֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוֹצִ֧יא יְהוָֹ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם: Now Moses' father in law, Jethro, the chieftain of...
![Seeing the Best in our Children – Parshas Beshalach](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-4.png)
הַיָּ֣ם רָאָה וַיָּנֹ֑ס הַ֜יַּרְדֵּ֗ן יִסֹּ֥ב לְאָחֽוֹר The sea saw and fled; the Jordan turned backward. (Tehillim 114:3) Dovid HaMelech is referring here to the miracle...
![Analyzing the 3 Sons – Parshas Bo – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-2.png)
וְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תָבֹ֣אוּ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֧ן יְהֹוָ֛ה לָכֶ֖ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּֽאת: וְהָיָ֕ה כִּי־יֹֽאמְר֥וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּנֵיכֶ֑ם מָ֛ה הָֽעֲבֹדָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לָכֶֽם: וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֡ם זֶֽבַח־פֶּ֨סַח ה֜וּא לַֽיהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר פָּ֠סַ֠ח עַל־בָּתֵּ֤י...
![Parenting Grateful Children – Parshart Va’eira – Rav Mordechai Burg](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Unlock-Your-Potential-How-Parenting-Can-Lead-to-Personal-Growth-385-x-300-px-1.png)
In this week’s Parsha we begin to learn about the plagues that Hashem brought upon Mitzrayim as Klal Yisrael began their journey towards redemption. While Moshe Rabbeinu was the...
![Raising the Next Generation of Leaders – Parshas Shemos](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2024/01/Donate-today-Donation-support-Instagram-post-with-a-heart-photo-4.png)
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ מִצְרַ֔יִם לַֽמְיַלְּדֹ֖ת הָֽעִבְרִיֹּ֑ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר שֵׁ֤ם הָֽאַחַת֙ שִׁפְרָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית פּוּעָֽה: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר בְּיַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת־הָ֣עִבְרִיּ֔וֹת וּרְאִיתֶ֖ן עַל־הָֽאָבְנָ֑יִם אִם־בֵּ֥ן הוּא֙ וַֽהֲמִתֶּ֣ן אֹת֔וֹ וְאִם־בַּ֥ת הִ֖וא וָחָֽיָה: וַתִּירֶ֤אןָ הַֽמְיַלְּדֹת֙ אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים וְלֹ֣א עָשׂ֔וּ...
![What It means to be Mevater – Parshas Vayechi](https://genaleph.org/content/uploads/2023/12/Donate-today-Donation-support-Instagram-post-with-a-heart-photo-1.png)
וַֽאֲנִ֣י | בְּבֹאִ֣י מִפַּדָּ֗ן מֵ֩תָה֩ עָלַ֨י רָחֵ֜ל בְּאֶ֤רֶץ כְּנַ֨עַן֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בְּע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־אֶ֖רֶץ לָבֹ֣א אֶפְרָ֑תָה וָֽאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָ שָּׁם֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔ת הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם: As for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel...