Two Jews, Three Opinions

Abraham fed strangers in the desert, then asked them to thank G-d. If they refused, he handed them a huge bill. Was that kindness, or a shakedown? The Talmud and Midrash tell a surprising story that raises an uncomfortable question: can you ever force someone to do the right thing?A class on Parshat Vayera with Rabbi Aron Moss.

If I really believe I'll win the lottery, will I?

Can you open a shop right next door to your competitor? In the free market, of course you can. But what does Jewish law say?The Talmud (Bava Batra 21b) records Rav Huna's ruling: if your neighbour opens a mill next to your mill, you can stop him, because "you're cutting off my livelihood." But is that the final word? Through fish traps, free lollies for kids, and rival bathhouses, the Sages pull that ruling apart.A class on Bava Batra 21b with Rabbi Aron Moss of Nefesh, Bondi Beach.

Abraham discovered G-d at the age of three, smashed his father's idols and risked his life rather than worship false gods. Yet the Torah barely mentions any of these extraordinary achievements.Instead, Abraham's story begins with two simple words: Lech Lecha, “Go for yourself.”Why does the Torah overlook Abraham's spiritual greatness? And what does this reveal about the fundamental difference between the Jewish relationship with G-d and that of the rest of humanity?A fascinating teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe reveals what truly makes a Jew Jewish, and why our connection with G-d goes deeper than faith, understanding or even religious observance.Based on Likkutei Sichos, Volume 25, Lech Lecha, Sicha 1.

You booked an electrician for a full day's work: $1,200. He shows up on time, ready to go. But the equipment he came to install never arrived. He says you owe him for the full day anyway. Do you?The Talmud (Bava Metzia 76b) has a clear answer, and it comes down to one question: who had the information? If you knew - or should have known - that the job couldn't go ahead and you didn't warn him, his lost day is your loss. But if he could easily have found other work that morning, you don't owe him a cent. You owe him something else: an apology. In Jewish law a "grievance" is a real claim. Not in dollars, but in how you treat people.A class on the Talmud's rules of hiring and cancelling workers (Bava Metzia, chapter 6) with Rabbi Aron Moss of Nefesh, Bondi Beach.