http://www.projectgenesis.org Leaders in Online Jewish Learning Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:16:46 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en "Rejoice on Purim till you can no longer distinguish between 'Cursed is Haman' and 'Blessed is Mordechai'." - Talmud Megillah 7b. The popular contemporary work, Nesivos Shalom, by the late Rebbe (Grand Rabbi) of the Slonim Hasidic sect, Rav Shalom Barzovsky ob"m, gives a novel and poignant interpretation of this classic ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/194/when-youre-smilin-happy-purim/ I have something unusual to share with you this week. Just in time for our Purim appeal, iGive.com sent us a challenge. We've been members of iGive for years, since they started as "eyeGive" and provided donations in return for clicks alone. Now they help us when you "Shop for the ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/191/give-project-genesis-1-and-it-wont-cost-you-a-penny/ I am very reluctant to get involved with an obviously parochial political matter. But I feel it is important to encourage everyone to participate in a plea for clemency for a mentally-impaired individual due to be killed by lethal injection early next week. 25 years ago, a 19-year-old man, Martin Grossman, ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/187/clemency-for-martin-grossman/ This week, the Torah reading talks about the gathering at Mount Sinai, and receiving the Torah. And the Torah says that the people "saw" the voices, when Mount Sinai was covered with a cloud of smoke. Many commentaries speak about what this means, whether literally or figuratively. The Shearis Menachem, though, ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/185/voices-you-can-see/ This quotation, from this week's Torah reading, is surely one of the most well-known phrases in the Bible. And I have often pointed out that it's really a half-quote, distorted, read as a cry for freedom. In actuality, G-d is telling Pharaoh to give the Jews a new, Divine Master: ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/182/let-my-people-go/ In this week's reading, Moshe sees an Egyptian beating another Jew, and comes to his rescue -- killing the Egyptian taskmaster, and putting his own life in danger. Why did Moshe take such a terrible risk? The Jewish man is never identified by name. We never hear from him again -- ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/170/a-jew-is-immediate-family/ In our reading this week, Yaakov blesses Yehudah by saying, "His eyes will be read from wine, and his teeth white from milk." Rabbi Yochanon (Kesuvos 111b) changes one vowel and reads, "and to whiten his teeth from [more than] milk." To give a warm smile is better than giving ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/172/donate-your-smile/ Tonight will be the first night of Chanukah, and we're here to celebrate with you! Follow our famous Online Menorah to see how many candles to light each evening, along with visual instructions for the three blessings. Also make sure to download some MP3s at TorahMedia.com delving into the spiritual ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/168/happy-chanukah/ I had planned to begin this week thanking the many people who volunteered to help us get the word out, by posting Torah.org flyers (or arranging to have them posted) on their campus or in their neighborhood. Instead, I must thank the few people who did so, all the more! At this ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/163/hidden-connection-between-turkey-and-thanksgiving/ "For the Candle is a Mitzvah, and the Torah is Light." Here's an easy Mitzvah for you, that will spread the Light of Torah in time for Chanukah! All that's required is your knowledge of your community, and a few moments of your volunteer spirit. Notice boards -- in shuls, Hillel ... http://www.projectgenesis.org/159/can-you-hang-a-torah-org-poster/