You can do it

WE have often focused on various important and necessary strategies for personal growth, such as taking risks, putting in effort and attention to detail, and being diligent.  However the success of these strategies depends on another fundamental human attitude – confidence. Lack of confidence comes from a hidden insecurity, a belief that we are not strong or skilled enough to succeed…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Be Specific

Have you ever resolved to change a habit or a negative behavior and found it too difficult to sustain? Have you ever had good intentions that remained in the world of thought and were never implemented?…asks Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Purim Q&A…from Rabbi Michoel Gourarie

Question:
I find Purim to be a very noisy festival. During the Megillah reading, when the name of Haman is mentioned, children (and adults) make a tremendous racket with their graggers and other noise making instruments. I find this very distracting. Wouldn’t a quiet celebration be more respectful? Read more

Is Your Cup Overflowing?

In Jewish tradition all important events are marked with a blessing recited over a cup of wine…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

The Beauty behind the Fog…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie

A few weeks ago in the school holidays, my wife and I spent a few days in the Blue Mountains. Despite it being January there was some unusual cool and stormy weather. One morning as we went outside we noticed an unbelievable fog. A huge mist covered everything in sight and we could not see more than three metres ahead of us. Read more

Did You Hear What I Said?…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie

Effective communication is central to human function and relationships.  Jewish sources define the human being as “the speaker”. Speaking and the ability to express ourselves adequately, is what distinguishes us from the rest of the planet. Read more

It’s Good to be Crazy

‘Crazy’, ‘insane’ or ‘irrational’ are all words normally associated with something negative.  If someone acts crazy we encourage them to be normal. Calling someone insane would be an insult, not a compliment, and for those that behave irrationally we always hope that the world of the rational will prevail….writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

It’s the Candle, not the Place

I recently returned from a four week trip overseas where we celebrated various Simchas and enjoyed family time in different places…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Work is not stress

Nowadays, pursuit of a completely stress free life is a very common goal. There are thousands of books and programs on relaxation techniques and stress management and there are millions of prescriptions written for tranquilizing medications…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

How Old Are You?

The Talmud relates that the great sage Rabbi Elazar ben Azaria was asked to assume the leadership of the Sanhedrin – The Jewish Supreme Court. Although he was fully qualified and had all the necessary credentials, he was reluctant to accept, as he was only eighteen at the time..writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Who am I?

Many of us have sensitive and fragile feelings and emotions. We all hate to be criticized, we hate to fail, we stress out when we cannot solve a problem and we explode if someone insults us..writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Chaos – Good or Bad?

Do you ever feel like your life is out of control and completely chaotic? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed and lost? Your plans aren’t working and you are confused about your future direction. There are relationship or financial difficulties to deal with and challenges that seem insurmountable. You are just a mess…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

P Plate Inspiration

Question:
Rabbi, I don’t mean to be nosy but I couldn’t help noticing that you are driving a car with P plates. Did you just learn to drive? Are they yours or were they left there by one of your teenage children?   Read more

Not Naive Just Loving

A Gentile seeking to convert to Judaism once approached the great sage Hillel and said: “Teach me the whole Torah while I stand on one foot.” Hillel responded: “What is hateful to you do not do to others. This is the essence of Jewish teaching – the rest is the commentary which you must go and study”…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

A verb – not a noun

Last week we suggested that gratitude is not a response to something positive, but rather a constant mindset and feeling of gratefulness for all the gifts of life, even those that are less obvious…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

A Mindset – Not Just a Response

Gratitude is one of the most powerful and important values. Jewish literature is full of sources highlighting the importance of showing appreciation. Modern Psychology has proven that gratitude generates happiness along with other physical and emotional benefits…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

The Temple of Soul

This Sunday is Tisha B’av – 9^th of Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

A Fresh Start

In the Jewish calendar we are in the midst of the “three Weeks”, the time when we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Just one friend

One of the important relationships that form human existence is friends…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Just Do It

Many things that we do and experience require a combination of emotion and action. The absence of feeling can affect the sincerity of the action and minimize its effectiveness..writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Always half full

Last week I attended a school assembly for young children at Kesser Torah College (Sydney) where my seven year old daughter was performing…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Take a Risk

Growth, change and self development isn’t always easy. It requires a lot of effort and some risk taking…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

A Cat Can’t Fly

One day towards evening when it was getting dark, two friends Yankel and Berel saw something in the distance. Yankel thought that it was a bird while Berel claimed that it was a cat…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Definition of Unity

In Jewish tradition one of the greatest ideals is unity and Shalom (peace). Harmony between husband and wife, respect between friends and communal solidarity generate blessing and success…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Simple Steps

Tomorrow night we begin the festival of Shavuot when we celebrate and commemorate the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The Sinai experience was the defining moment of Jewish history when we committed ourselves to G-d and His commandments, becoming His nation forever…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

It’s not all in the packaging

Everything we do has two parts – the first is the goal and purpose and the second is the process and the means through which we achieve the final outcome…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

What’s with the name?

Question:

Recently I have been attending BINA and am really enjoying it.  The classes are interesting and well structured, presented in a welcoming and non-threatening way.  However, I have one question. Why do you call yourselves BINA? I know it means ‘understanding’ but aren’t there other words in Hebrew for learning and knowledge like “Chochma” or “Daat”. So why Bina?…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Can you Wait?

There is an interesting agricultural Mitzvah in this week’s Torah portion called Orlah. The commandment states that when we plant a tree we are prohibited to eat its fruit for the first three years.  Once this time has passed we are free to enjoy the fruit and thank G-d for the blessings He has given us…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

Harmless Gossip

Judaism considers gossip a serious transgression. But what is the definition of gossip? Is it only malicious slander that is harmful to another, or can it even be a casual, harmless comment that is negative…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie? Read more

One Day or One Lifetime

There is an interesting halachic discussion regarding the Mitzvah of Sefirat Haomer – the forty nine days that we count between the festival of Pesach and Shavuot…writes Rabbi Michoel Gourarie. Read more

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