Rabbi's Weekly Message
Perashat Tessaveh 5778
Friday, February 23, 2018This coming week we celebrate Purim. It is our custom that the names of most Jewish holidays are tied to the essence of the day (e.g., on sukkot we dwell in a sukkah, on Passover Hashem passed over the Jewish homes). What then is the significance of the name Purim? Translated, Purim actually means "lots" as in casting lots. How does this description relate to the holiday? ...
Read more...Perashat Terumah 5778
Friday, February 16, 2018Over the course of 400 pesukim, beginning in this week's perasha through the end of Shemot, the Torah describes in great detail the building of theMishkan, Tabernacle, and its utensils. We believe that the Torah is eternal, and each missva is relevant for every generation and for every Jew. If so, what can we learn from our perasha that would apply to our daily lives? ...
Read more...Perashat Mishpatim 5778
Friday, February 09, 2018In last week's perasha we read about the revelation at the base of Har Sinai where the Jewish nation was elevated to the highest levels of prophetic insight. It's logical to assume that the Torah would continue in this week's perasha by pronouncing Halakhot, laws, that maintain this spiritual and transcendental theme, laws such as the requirement to pray, don Tefillin, or keep Shabbat. So why does Hashem instead proceed to communicate to Moshe the civil laws and laws of interpersonal relationships? ...
Read more...Perashat Yitro 5778
Friday, February 02, 2018In this week's perasha, we read about the revelation of Hashem on Har Sinai as He proclaimed the Ten Commandments amid thunder and lightning. In the first of the Ten Commandments Hashem introduces Himself with the words, "I am the Lord, your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage". This is considered the first commandment, but doesn't it seem more of a proclamation than a missva?...
Read more...Perashat Beshalah 5778
Friday, January 26, 2018In this week's perasha we read about Keri'at Yam Soof, the splitting of the Sea, which is the culminating event of Yesiat Missrayim. There is a question that every person who studies this perasha should ask: Why did Hashem need to perform another miracle, the splitting of the sea? Were the ten plagues not enough to convince the people present of all His power? ...
Read more...Perashat Bo 5778
Friday, January 19, 2018In this week's perasha the Torah describes the Exodus of Bene Yisrael from Egypt. Most people are not aware that an overwhelming majority of Bene Yisrael did not leave Egypt. Rashi writes that only one out of five Israelites left, and four-fifths did not make it out [Mechilta, Tanhuma, Beshalah 1]. ...
Read more...Perashat Va'era 5778
Friday, January 12, 2018This week's perasha continues to follow Moshe and Aharon's mission to free Am Yisrael from the bondage of Egypt. In the first paragraph of our perasha, we find a puzzling passuk: "So Hashem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, and He commanded them concerning the children of Israel and concerning Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, to let the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt"...
Read more...Perashat Shemot 5778
Friday, January 05, 2018After Am Yisrael suffers many years of harsh slavery in Egypt, Hashem commands Moshe to petition Pharaoh to release them from their bondage and deliver them to freedom. With great humility, Moshe asks Hashem to send someone else to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Out of respect for his older brother Aharon, who was the leader of Am Yisrael, Moshe didn't want to hurt him by assuming his position. ...
Read more...Perashat Vayehi 5778
Friday, December 29, 2017Every Friday night Jewish parents around the world bless their children as Ya'akob Abinu proclaimed in this week's Perasha: "By you shall Israel bless saying, 'May God make you like Efrayim and like Menashe' ". Why is it that we bless our children to be specifically like Efrayim and Menashe? Wouldn't it be more fitting that we bless our children to be like our founding forefathers, Abraham, Yisshak and Ya'akob? ...
Read more...Perashat Vayigash 5778
Friday, December 22, 2017In this week's Perasha, Yosef reveals his identity to his brothers by saying, "Ani Yosef [I am Yosef]. Is my father still alive?" The Midrash comments on this passuk, "R. Elazar declared: Woe unto us on judgment day, woe unto us on the day of rebuke, for if Yosef could cause them to faint by saying, `I am your brother Yosef,' what will happen when Hashem arises to judge us. If a mere human could confound his brothers, how much more so will we be confounded when the Holy One, blessed be He, examines us" (Beresheet Raba 93:11). ...
Read more...Dec 21 2024
Kislev 20 5785