A Selection from my Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Tanakh, Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother.

Talmud, Kidushin 30b
Our sages taught: There are three partners in a man: the Holy One, his father, and his mother. When a man honors his father and his mother, the … More

A Selection from my Favorite Jewish Sources
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin

The Talmud (Shabbat 31a) tells the following story about Hillel (30 BCE – 20 CE).

Two men bet against each other, wagering that whomever was first to make Hillel angry would win 400 zuz. One of them said: “I … More

A Selection from my Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Hebrew Bible, Leviticus 23:26-32
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Mark, the tenth day of this seventh month is Yom Kippur. It shall be a sacred occasion for you: you shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Hebrew Bible, Genesis 2:18
The Lord God said: It is not good for man to be alone.

Hebrew Bible, Genesis 2:24
Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they become one … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Mishne Torah, The Laws of Torah Study, chapter 1
1:2. Just as one is obligated to teach one’s son, so is one obligated to teach one’s grandson, for it is written, “…but teach them to your sons, and your son’s … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Midrash Mishlei 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6). Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Joshua differed.
Rabbi Eliezer said: The verse means that if you train your son with words of Torah until he … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
By Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Talmud, Gittin 57a
It was the custom that when a boy was born a cedar tree was planted and when a girl was born a pine tree. When they grew up and married, the wedding canopy was made of … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Avot D’Rabbi Nathan 12 3
When two people had a dispute, Aaron, the High Priest, went and sat near one of them and said to him: “My son, see what your friend is doing? He is beating his heart and … More

A Selection From My Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Torah, Exodus 22:20-26
You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as … More

A Selection from My Favorite Jewish Sources
Rabbi Mordechai Levin

Rabbi Chayim of Sanz,Darkai Chayim, p. 137
The merit of tzedakah (charity) is so great that I am happy to give to 100 beggars even if only one might actually be needy. Some people, however, act as if they are … More