The newly released book “Exhilarating Torah Insights on Recreation and Vacation” is now available (as a paperback, hardcover and digitized version) for purchase and delivery on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/
This insightful and thought-provoking book delves into these questions and many more, offering profound insights. With over 50 meticulously crafted essays, it masterfully conveys the Torah’s perspective on recreation and vacation. As an indispensable guide, this work will enable readers to attain a deeper understanding of these important topics.
It makes a great gift for parents, siblings, friends, relatives, neighbors, business associates, acquaintances and learning partners. Purchase it at https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP.
Some of the questions discussed in this book are the following.
What role does recreation play in our service of Hashem?
What does the Torah teach us about music?
What lessons can we glean from specific types of recreation, such as sports?
Is there a mitzvah to take a vacation?
What does the Torah say about comedy and humor?
To join the thousands of recipients and receive these insights free on a weekly email, obtain previous articles, feedback, comments, suggestions (on how to spread the insights of this publication further, make it more appealing or anything else), to sponsor this publication which has been in six continents and more than forty countries, or if you know anyone who is interested in receiving these insights weekly, please contact the author, Rabbi Yehoshua Alt, at [email protected]. Thank you.
To purchase any of the author’s books (hardcopy or e-book) and get it delivered to your door, please send an email to [email protected] or visit https://amzn.to/3eyh5xP
לעילוי נשמת שמואל אביגדור בן יצחק מאיר
These Torah articles can also be viewed in French and Hebrew at https://www.dirshu.co.il/
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Please send your feedback to [email protected].
Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg ztz”l. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications and is the author of the books, Fascinating Insights and Incredible Insights. His writings inspire people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to live with the vibrancy and beauty of Torah. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes, and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.
Please feel free to print some copies of this publication and distribute them in your local shul for the public, thereby having a hand in spreading Torah.
Videos, Voicenotes and Voicemails
The pasuk tells us מות וחיים ביד לשון, death and life are in the power of the tongue.[1] Why does it say the word ביד? Wouldn't it make more sense to just say מות וחיים בלשון? What is the word ביד adding?
The Torah is eternal and timeless, speaking not only to its original audience but to every generation. Once upon a time, if someone wanted to spread negative or positive speech, they would do so solely with their mouth. Today, however, there are many ways to “speak” — through typing on a keyboard, sending an email or tapping out a text message. Our words, once the product of our mouths, now often flow through our יד, hand, onto a screen. With this modern lens, the word ביד makes perfect sense: now, our hand can indeed “speak,” through our words, whether life-giving or destructive, being communicated by our fingertips.
Taking it even further, technology has enabled us to combine speech and hand in a new way. With videos, voicemails, and voice notes, we can use both לשון and יד working in harmony to convey our message. In this sense we can explain ביד לשון: the hand and tongue are now partners in amplifying our voices — for good or for bad. In this light, the pasuk's words are not just a reminder but also a call to awareness of the power of our words, however we choose to send them out into the world.
