יום ראשון, כ״ד אלול תשפ״וSunday, September 6, 2026
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Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman is an Assistant Professor at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School, an instructor at RIETS, and the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. He graduated YU with a BA in psychology, an MS in Jewish Education from Azrieli and Rabbinic Ordination from RIETS, before attending St. John’s University for his doctorate in psychology.He learned for two years at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. He has been on the rabbinic staff of Kingsway Jewish Center in Brooklyn, NY since 2010 and practices as a licensed psychologist in NY. His book “Psyched for Torah,” his academic and popular articles, as well as many of his lectures are accessible on his website, www.PsychedForTorah.com.
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By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In some children, embellished praise can lead to narcissistic tendencies. Praise is essential, but it is essential for praise to be tempered, not extravagant.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The snake’s incitement and the aesthetic enticement of the fruit led to Chava’s and then to Adam’s self-control failure.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We all sometimes think in warped and twisted ways. ... As an example, control fallacies can lead us to believe that we have absolutely no control over our lives.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The curses that Moshe delineated in Parshat Ki Tavo were meant to deter those who would consider abandoning faith in G-d and turning to other gods.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One of the reasons we may have trouble noticing blessings is that there’s a human tendency to always want more. Yes, I have some money, but I could always have more.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
What are the parameters and guidelines for fulfilling this commandment? How should we remember and how do we ensure not to forget?
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The Talmud presents an enigmatic aggadic dialogue between G-d and the angels in which the angels ask G-d how He can show favor to the Jewish people (as is implied in the Priestly Blessing) when fairness and justice usually preclude showing favoritism.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In Parshat Vaetchanan, we learn that someone who kills another by accident must flee to a city of refuge for protection. The Talmud contains a fascinating addition to this law: If a student is forced into exile, his teacher must go with him.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
As an example, consider a person who, after being insulted, takes a vow to avenge the slight. Over time, his anger subsides, and he no longer feels the same intense feelings toward the perpetrator.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even a single negative word or phrase, when focused on for extended periods of time, can damage key brain structures that regulate memory and emotion.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Fights and disagreements often feel sweet and right in the moment but lead to bitterness and regrets in the long run.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
It’s not entirely clear within the narrative what the spies did wrong. They were asked to scout the land and report back, and that’s what they did.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The greatness of man manifests itself in his inner contradiction, in his dialectical nature, in his being single and unrelated to anyone, as well as in his being thou-related and belonging to a community structure.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One important lesson that several positive psychologists make is that relentlessly pursuing happiness usually does not lead to happiness.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Oneg is a spiritual pleasure, which doesn’t completely negate pain, but alleviates it by infusing meaning.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Rashi, quoting the midrash, takes the discussion in another direction by noting that “asher” doubles as an allusion to “ashrei,” meaning happy, praiseworthy, or fortunate.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
While Shabbat is in theory emblematic of tranquility, it often does not translate well into practice.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Regardless of which approach we take, it is evident that there is an inherent value in magnifying and glorifying physical beauty as it relates to deeply sacred rituals.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even the greatest sage, who has amassed encyclopedic knowledge and can plumb the depths of Talmudic analysis, is still called a student.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The Sanhedrin tended to be a group of like-minded individuals who were in charge of making very important decisions in high-stress situations, many of which had life and death consequences.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
This theory can be both empowering and (interpreted as) anxiety-provoking, as it makes each of us responsible for our own emotions.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
When people change and “fake” their body posture from reflecting being closed off and timid to an open, power posture (think a Superman pose), they feel more confident and are more willing to act courageously.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
While the Midrash does not state explicitly what caused this anger, perhaps they were upset that they had been promised redemption but nothing subsequently changed.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
When everyone else was a bystander, Moshe takes action and defends the Ivri.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Instead of focusing on the trauma, he should have realized that Hashem saved him from Esav and Lavan, and returned Dinah and Yosef.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The act of lighting the menorah is an expression of gratitude.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The Torah shows us the genius of Reuven’s strategy in stopping his brothers from committing murder.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Like the Slonimer Rebbe, Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz (Daat Torah p. 205-206) does understand "levado" as meaning alone. But based on the Midrash, he assumes that being alone is constructive. How can it be constructive?
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In a brilliantly creative rereading of the pasuk, Rabbi Shimshon suggests that alluded to in Yaakov’s word choice is this discovery of self-efficacy.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
There isn’t much we know about his life, and what we do know seems to parallel many of the events in Avraham’s life.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even a cursory reading of the pesukim leaves the reader in awe of the speed Avraham exhibited in performing the mitzvah.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
G-d, as it were, requires man’s assistance in revealing His presence in the world. Avram’s job was to spread G-d’s message in a world where He was obscured by idol worship.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
If G-d miraculously ensured that all the animals came to Noach, why make him responsible for bringing them into the ark?
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The first person to die in Tanach is Hevel, who is killed by his brother Kayin. Kayin’s name comes from the concept of acquisition.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
In a more hopeful explanation, the Ohr HaChaim suggests that the pasuk is presenting alternative options that lead to repentance.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Being happy is a vital and necessary component in the performance of mitzvot.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One is allowed, and perhaps even obligated, to hate someone whom one has seen transgress a commandment.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The beginning of the parsha is startling in its simplicity: see the blessing and the curse in front of you and choose the blessing.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
The remedy for external dangers is to reject the foreign cultures. Is the antidote to arrogance to discourage material wealth?
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Whichever explanation of “taguru” is correct, the message of the pasuk is about fear. Fear of another human being cannot be a factor when pursuing justice.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Even though we generally abstain from taking oaths nowadays, figuring out other ways to up the ante and solidify our commitment is essential.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
One answer is that having this ruach is simply a gift from G-d. I either have it or I don’t. All I can do is daven and hope that Hashem grants me these abilities.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Rabbi Natan Tzvi Finkel argues that Moshe’s continual attempts to resolve the conflict teaches us that the prohibition applies even after the other party rejects an attempt at reconciliation.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
At its core techelet reminds us of our mission in this world, which is to serve G-d by doing mitzvot and avoiding sinning.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Bnei Yisrael couldn’t be longing for free food in Egypt because, says the Midrash, there was no free food in Egypt.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
We often take the battle against temptation head on and eventually lose to that delicious looking piece of chocolate cake.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Rabbi Kamenetsky explains that there is a danger inherent in the tribalism that is presented in Bamidbar.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Later commentators present many questions and interpretations to try to understand the depth of this midrash. In fact, the Ohr HaChaim presents 42 different explanations of these few words.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
It will be like the manna, which our Sages tell us was able to provide adequate nutrition and satiation despite its small size.
By Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman
Researchers are trying to determine which approach is more effective in getting a person to his goal.
September 4, 2026 
