by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | May 8, 2017
Life signs of a near death human can be extended artificially by feeding tubes, parenteral nutrition, mechanical ventilation, dialysis, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillation, artificial pacemaker, etc., but the Angel of Death’s patience has its limits.
The manifold parts of a whole human organism cease to function very soon after death sets in, however, individual organs can cease to function before death settles in. A limb can be gangrenous and amputated and internal organs removed with the patient continuing to live.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Apr 25, 2017
Tsara’at is a pale area on one’s body in which the hair has lost its color by turning white. The inflicted person becomes tamai (impure) and is prohibited from entering a walled city in Eretz Yisrael, thereby being excluded from being a part of normal Jewish society. This is the punishment for the sin of lashon hara – derogatory and defaming speech.
In contrast to the spiritual world(s), our material universe consists of vast numbers of distinct entities.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Apr 19, 2017
After 3500 years of serving as Hashem’s chosen people with a history unlike any other nation – neither in suffering, nor in accomplishments – the time has come to examine if the Jewish nation is a success story or a failure.
We are the only ancient people that is still alive – success. However, the majority of Jews today are not conscious Torah observers – failure. So, at the end of the day, is Hashem “happy” or “disappointed” with us?
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Apr 4, 2017
The Hagada of Pesach states that every Jew is required to see himself as if he was enslaved and then redeemed from Egypt. One must muster up every power of imagination to be in the reality of Egyptian slavery.
I would like to suggest another “make-believe” moment of meditation, albeit radically different with the emphasis on reliving the glorious days of our history, and while we are already prepared to go down memory lane, let’s take a small leap from placing ourselves in actual experiences to experiences that could have happened.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Mar 30, 2017
Lashanah haba’ah biy’rushalaim!
Lashanah haba’ah biy’rushalaim hab’nuyah!
What do you mean when you sing “next year in Yerushalayim”?
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Mar 21, 2017
The last four parshiot of Shemot deal with the first national project of Am Yisrael – the holy Mishkan (Tabernacle) – that embraced all segments of the nation’s population.
Three monetary “endowments” were required: one half shekel with which to purchase the animals and other items for public sacrifices; another half shekel from which were formed the base supports for the Mishkan’s ten amot (five-meter-high) wooden planks; and an open donation for all the other articles required for the Mishkan’s construction and sacrificial activities.
A national project of Am Yisrael that required the heart, soul, and physical efforts of every Jew.
