The Library

The Torah tells us the rich rewards we will receive if we observe the Torah, and this is followed by a stern warning of the harsh consequences that will result if we deviate from the Torah. In Ethics of the Fathers, we are instructed to observe the Torah, “not as servants...

In this parsha we have the mitzvah of sefiras haomer. Hashem instructed the Jews to count forty-nine days, and this would then lead to the Revelation and giving of the Torah at Sinai. There were many miracles at the exodus, but the greatest miracle of all was that a peopl...

Dear Chaveirim, Lag Ba'Omer is only hours away. This day is, be"H, a very special milestone for me - six years clean! I have had amazing Hashgacha regarding my anniversary dates. The day when I was three years clean (May 18, 2012) fell on Yesod shebeYesod (the 41st day of...

To all GYE Members in Israel, We hope to have the honor of having Dov - from the Daily Dose of Dov - in Israel this summer. (As you may know, Dov is clean in SA for 18+ years). We would like to make a GYE 12-Step workshop event in Jerusalem, where Dov and Duvid Cha...

To all GYE Members in the UK, The heads of GYE will be visiting London on a short fundraising trip be”h from June 1-3. We have a few Rabbanim behind us in London B”Hwho would like to help, such as Dayan Shmuel Simons and Rav Shimon Weingarten, but we need your help with c...

I am so deliriously happy with reaching 180 days sober!I remember reading a post a short time ago of a GYE member who is also a Ba'al Koreh in shul. He said that when he read Shir Hashirim in shul he got quite emotional. I really relate to that. It shows the stark differe...

In his new book Getting Closer - Understanding and Treating Issues in Marital Intimacy: A Guide for Orthodox Couples, Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, MA, a Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in marriage counseling for Orthodox couples, takes the shame out of the issu...

The Torah says, "You shall not do as the Egyptians do, from whose land you left, nor as the Canaanites do, to whose land you are entering." What can this mean? There are already 365 specific prohibitions. What is the Torah referring to? There are many permissible activiti...

I want to tell you this story. I worked as a rabbi in a community so many people come to me for sholom bayis or advice. There’s this couple I am dealing with for many months. He behaves very badly with his wife. No-respect, calls her names, locks her in the house, yells, ...

Prefer a Hard Copy of the GYE Handbook? You can now order your copy here For questions and comments, please contact gyehandbook@gmail.com We are looking for donations to help with the printing and distribution of free handbooks for those who need. If you can he...

The transformation that occurred at Yetzias Mitzrayim, from a slave mentality to the spirituality of “naaseh venishma” was miraculous. How did it occur? With the mitzvah of Sefira, taking it "one day at a time". Why then, was there so great a failure at the episode of the...

When we left Egypt, we went from being slaves to being free. But, we are now slaves again - to Hashem! So what's the difference? Chasam Sofer in the beginning of parshas Bechukosai says that the last of the berachos mentioned for following the Torah is 'voeshbor motos ulc...

1. It is true that live 12-Step meetings are not for everyone, but someone who has tried many things and has not succeeded until now, should be encouraged to join a live 12-Step group. If you tell him that he needs to ask a shailah, then he will likely just not go. He w...

Sholom to all my brothers-in-arms! I would like to share some stuff: you know, it helps just to know people in the same boat as me read my stuff. So thank you ahead of time - this comradery helps us grow. It helped me 6 years ago and it helps me now. We have to have patie...

Question: Pesach is coming up. This means that I will not be able to shave until lag baomer. I have never done this before as I have always been worried about looking weird. Can you give me an idea of how to have an attitude that I will actually keep the omer properly? I ...

Congratulations and thank you to Rabbi Feuerman, LCSW-R for completing the cycle of the Friday shiurim "The Chosson Shmooze You WISH You Had, but Never Got!" Note: This live shiurim series is over. The entire series of this sensitive but important series for ...

By Madisyn Taylor Sometimes when we break a habit or addiction we find ourselves missing it like a dear friend. Whenever we make the effort to free ourselves of an addiction or a habit we no longer need, we are often surprised to find ourselves missing the old pattern as...

An astonishing and sobering contrast concerning the nature of the human psyche captures our imagination in this week's Torah portion (Emor). The Torah prohibits a Kohen, a priest (which includes all descendents of Aaron), from marrying a divorced woman. It also prohibit...