31/3/2026
Reporting Live From Los Angeles, California
In a todays live broadcast and soul-stirring gathering that transcended the physical world, our beloved leader, Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, shared profound insights into the essence of brotherhood and the spiritual mechanics of the upcoming Passover holiday. The evening was marked by the joyous completion of a Sefer Torah in honor of Morris and Paul Marciano, two pillars of our community whose bond reflects the very foundation of Jerusalem.
The Field of Tears: Where the Temple Stands
The Rabbi opened with a powerful Midrash about two brothers in Morocco who shared a field. One had a large family, while the other lived alone. Out of pure, secret love, each brother would creep into the other’s storehouse at night to leave extra grain, believing the other needed it more. When they finally bumped into each other in the dark of night, they embraced and wept.
“The Almighty said: This is the holiest ground on earth,” the Rabbi explained. It was on this very spot—the site of unconditional brotherly love—that the Beit HaMikdash (The Holy Temple) was built. This, the Rabbi noted, is the spirit of Morris and Paul. Their mutual devotion is a beacon for all of Shuva Israel, proving that when brothers love each other more than themselves, the Shekhinah (Divine Presence) dwells among them.
The Three Centers of Intelligence
In a fascinating dive into the “logic” of the soul, Rabbi Pinto revealed that intelligence is not confined to the brain. “The Sechel (logic) is found in three places: the mind, the heart, and the gut,” he taught. He explained that our “gut feelings” are actually a sophisticated form of spiritual logic. When a person feels a pang of anxiety or a sudden intuition, it is the intelligence of the gut speaking. By aligning the mind, heart, and stomach, a person can achieve a holistic connection to the Creator.
Exodus from the “Narrow Places”
As we approach Passover, the Rabbi spoke of “Mitzrayim” (Egypt) not just as a historical land, but as a spiritual state. “Mitzrayim comes from the word ‘Meizar’—a narrow, closed place,” he said. Every person has their own Egypt: for some, it is financial struggle; for others, it is sadness or illness. The secret of the Seder night is the power to break these shackles.
Sharing a story from the Ohev Yisrael of Apta, the Rabbi reminded us that crying out to Hashem during the Seder can solve any problem. Like the Jew who was miraculously saved from a cruel landlord after screaming the words of the Haggadah with total faith, we too can find our salvation this month.
The Danger of Overthinking
The Rabbi concluded with a humorous but piercing parable of the frog and the centipede. When the frog asked the centipede how he manages 150 legs when the frog struggles with four, the centipede began to overthink his movements and became paralyzed. “The biggest problem a person has is the problem in his own head,” the Rabbi cautioned.
Let us take this lesson into our homes: move with faith, love without limits, and trust that the Torah we write together will bring the ultimate Refuah (healing) and Geulah (redemption) to the entire world.
