Hidden codes embedded in Scripture! Bible codes predict terrorist attacks! Sensationalistic headlines like these have been seen for years. Melodramatic books with extravagant claims appeared in the mid-1990s often written by authors with little Hebrew knowledge. So frequently am I asked about this that I’m devoting this Thought Tool to the topic. While in yeshiva,...
She responded to his warmth, she basked in his company. They shared a sense of humor and agreed on life goals. But every time she thought he would propose, something sidelined him. A new work assignment, a friend going through a rough time…all seemingly reasonable reasons for him to pay her less attention, but somehow...
It is true that there is no specific ancient Jewish wisdom on how The Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind effectively ended the era of black-and-white movies when they were released in 1939. But the Torah does teach the permanent principles of color. It even teaches why different colors impact us in different...
Almost everyone can tell when a synagogue or a church is in the final stages of decline. The impending extinction is usually caused by changing neighborhood demographics or sometimes by a leadership crisis but the signs are always conspicuous. Diminished attendance; few young women, a sad-looking facility showing signs of neglect. A roof needing repair,...
Have you ever wondered why Snow White met seven dwarfs? Not six, not eight— exactly seven. Why do we speak of Seven Wonders of the World—perhaps there should be nine? Marilyn Monroe even starred in The Seven Year Itch. Have you ever wondered why England celebrated Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne on the fiftieth...
It’s hardly surprising that increasing numbers of women loathe men and detest masculinity. After all, most of their experiences with men have been only with cads, scoundrels, rogues and rakes. They have been exploited by clowns, abused by creeps, corrupted by crooks and debased by cranks. Only a diminishing minority of women have enjoyed the...
Internet giant, Amazon, is famous for its frugality. This means cheap desks cobbled together from wooden doors and scraps of lumber. It also means main cabin air travel, even for senior executives, on long flights. This corporate parsimony didn’t suddenly appear from nowhere. Although he was already a senior vice president at a successful hedge...
Have you ever found yourself entranced by the video game, Angry Birds? You might have thought that the stock of the company, Rovio, that started with the launch of that strangely addictive activity would be soaring as high as its colorful avian projectiles. Not so; in fact it never came up with any subsequent games...
Have you noticed how many men seem allergic to something broken? Often a man acquires a new car and the first thing he does is lift the hood to see if anything needs doing. Perhaps he installs a police-radar detector or buys safety valve stem caps for his tires. Here’s the secret: for men, engagement...
The international accounting giant, Deloitte, recently spent over $300 million educating its 50,000 American employees about its purpose. This sounds a little touchy-feely for the world’s largest audit, tax and consulting firm. They spent so much money in this way because they determined that companies that instill a strong sense of purpose in their people...
