Parashat Va-era 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor This week Tal Orot teamed up with an organization called Haverut to offer a workshop in Jewish meditation for therapists, physicians and social workers here in Tzfat on the campus of Livnot U’Lehibanot. Haverut…
Road Trip
Parashat Vayechi 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor One of the humbling experiences Olim Hadashim go through is the process of getting an Israeli driver’s license. Never mind that I’ve been driving for more than 50 years – by law, I still…
Brother’s Keeper
Parashat Vayigash 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor Our Ulpan resumed this week after the Hanukkah break and before class began one of the students gave a passionate speech, truly a devar Torah, in which he expressed what he learned from Hanukkah…
Light Show
Parashat Miketz 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor It has been raining hard in Tzfat and throughout much of Israel for the last few days – a much-needed rain, but it’s been cold, dark and dreary, and we were socked-in with thick…
Behind the Screen
Parashat Vayeshev 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor We just returned from a visit to the States, where, among other things, we were struck by the degree to which people’s attention is riveted by screens, especially the small screens of their handhelds,…
It’s Not Business, It’s Personal
Parashat Vayishlach 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor This week’s parashah opens with Yaakov Avinu’s anxious preparations to meet his twin brother Esav after years of estrangement. Fearing Esav’s murderous resentment, Yaakov prays poignantly and movingly to HaShem for help. The commentators…
If, Then
Parashat Vayetze Rabbi Meir Sendor At the beginning of this week’s parashah, Yaakov Avinu, on his way out of the Land of Canaan, fleeing his brother Esav and anxious about his future, has his Ladder dream in which HaShem promises…
Couples Therapy
Parashat Toldot 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor From the large, high-perched porch of Livnot U’lehibanot in Tzfat you get a dramatic, sweeping view west, across the deep valley, of Mount Meron (1208m), Mount Neriah (1123m), Mount Bar Yochai (1151m) and Mount…
Fight Fire with Fire – of the Heart
Parashat Hayye Sarah 5777 Rabbi Meir Sendor For the last three days disastrous fires have been raging throughout the Land of Israel. The long dry spell and the strong winds we have been experiencing have created dangerous conditions, and what…
