Michael Mantell

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In the words of Louis Nizer, the noted Jewish-American trial lawyer author, artist, and advisor to some of the most powerful people in the world of politics, business, and entertainment, “True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess.” In this week’s readings, we are […]

Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — In this week’s parasha, Yitro, one of the six portions named for an individual, the Ten Commandments (not suggestions), the Aseret HaDib’rot, are revealed to Moses and to the Israelites in the wilderness. We may learn from this pinnacle experience that the Torah can be learned anywhere, even

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Beshalach, includes an impactful pasuk, “And He said, ‘If you hearken to the voice of the Lord, your God, and you do what is proper in His eyes, and you listen closely to His commandments and observe all His statutes, all the sicknesses that

When Hashem directs Moses, “come to Pharaoh,” He is saying “come to Me.” The Ba’al Shem Tov teaches in a parable that He is saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am here behind the screen. All the tests are just from me. With everything you do, you’re getting closer to Me. I am the good found in all the struggle. Come to Me and I will take you high above the darkness of this world, and then I will show you how I was really with you the whole time.” In essence he is suggesting the famous FEAR acronym “Face Everything and Rise,” rather than “Forget Everything and Run.” [Michael Mantell, Ph.D]

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Oy gevalt! Evictions, pleading to “let My people go,” magic staffs, plagues, hardened hearts…read all this and enjoy a peaceful Shabbat? By now we’ve learned that whatever happens in our lives always happens for our benefits. Let’s look at the lessons in this week’s Torah reading, the 14th

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — When someone came to the Tzemach Tzedek, the third Lubavitcher rebbe for a blessing, the rebbe said, “Think positive and it will be positive.” This week a superb lesson in living optimally comes from Shemot. Moshe, we learn, wasn’t always a positive thinker. Recall the day following

Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, Maimonides, was one of the towering figures in the history of the Jewish people. Of him it was said, “From Moshe (Moses) to Moshe (the son of Maimon) there arose none like Moshe.” The Rambam wrote, “Maintaining a healthy body is among the ways

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This week’s parasha, Miketz, comes on Chanukah and on Rosh Chodesh Tevet. Yet, Chanukah isn’t mentioned even once in all of our Torah. Recall that in last week’s parasha, Vayeishev, Joseph was thrown into a pit. Joseph prayed and Hashem answered his prayers. This week, we read

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — You’ve heard it many times, “Man plans, G-d laughs.” Or perhaps, like me, you’ve heard this version, “Mentsch tracht, Gott lacht.” I like “Man thinks, G-d Winks.” Regardless, like all of us who prefer to live without being mutchet or tcheppeht, (pressured or bothered), Jacob found that life has

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — “Thank you.” Here’s a question for you. Who’s the first person to have brought these words, “Thank you” to us Yehudim? Right! That’d be the mother of Yehuda (from the word hoda’ah), none other than Leah. When’s the last time you expressed genuine, heartfelt gratitude and shown

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — If you’re looking for a love story, this week in Toldot, we read a magnificent one, in fact the first. You see, we are told that husband and wife are to, “cleave to each other and become one flesh.” This is precisely what Isaac and Rebecca teach

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Over the past several years when writing about this week’s Torah portion, I often shared two very contemporary lessons – never give up hope and be in control, emotionally, when dealing with oneself and with others. As the years pass, it appears these lessons are even more

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — It may be difficult to imagine that the purpose of an entire week’s Torah reading is to teach us about the importance of acts of kindness, in particular, hachnasat orchim, but that is just what Rabbi David Kimcha, the Radak, suggests to us. Do you run, not

By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — Want to move beyond your limits and extend your potential? To do so requires that you forcefully replace any limiting thinking, and “Go out of your land, our native country, and your father’s house.” Contemporary self-help and self-awareness meant to help us grow and shift, suggests asking,