Rabbi's Weekly Message
Perashat Shemini 5777
Friday, April 21, 2017In this week's perasha, Shemini, we read about the deaths of Aharon's two sons, Nadab and Abihu. The midrash on our perasha states as follows: "Moshe said to Aharon: My brother; at Sinai I was told that Hashem would sanctify this house [i.e., the Mishkan, the Tabernacle] with a great person - and I thought that it would be sanctified through me. However, now it would appear that your two sons [i.e., Nadab and Abihu] are greater than you and me." ...
Read more...Perashat Sav 5777
Friday, April 07, 2017Hag HaPesah vs. Hag HaMassot In a few days, all of us will be sitting around the Seder table, saying the Haggada, singing the traditional songs, and transmitting to our children our thousand-year old stories –overlaid with so many magical experiences – while, at the same time, expressing our gratitude for the miracles that Hashem did - and continues to do for us in every generation, thereby demonstrating our longing for Him to continue His blessing. This experience infuses us with inspiration, excitement, joy and pride that we are a part of this amazing nation, ‘Am Yisrael.
Read more...Perashat Vayikra 5777
Friday, March 31, 2017Vayikra : Punctuated Affection "Caresses, expressions of one sort or another, are necessary to the life of the affections as leaves are to the life of a tree. If they are wholly restrained, love will die at the roots." - Nathaniel Hawthorn ...
Read more...Perashat Vayakhel-Pekudei 5777
Friday, March 24, 2017In this Shabbat’s Torah portions Vayakhel-Pekudei, we conclude Sefer Shemot which relates how we became a nation. The book of Shemot started out with describing the very beginning of our nation as slaves, working at hard labor under the harsh and cruel hand of the evil Pharaoh, who made the lives of Bnei Yisrael miserable through a brutal enslavement of both body and soul, along with horrible decrees. When the people cried out about their hardship, Hashem revealed himself to Moshe and sent him to salvage and rescue them from bondage to freedom, through signs and wonders and, “an outstretched arm.” ...
Read more...Perashat Ki Tissa 5777
Friday, March 17, 2017In this week’s perasha, we read about the breaking of the first Luhot, the first “Tablets of the Law” that were received by Moshe Rabbenu. There was a remarkable difference in the manner in which the first and second sets of Luhot reached his hands. The first were handed to him by Boreh Olam. G-d revealed Himself at Mt. Sinai in the presence of all the people amidst thunder and lightning and pronounced the Ten Commandments. Our Hakhamim teach us, that at that time, afilu oaf lo parah – that the silence was so absolute, that it was not even disturbed by the flight of a bird. [Exodus Rabbah 29] The entire universe held its breath in awe and reverence during those precious historical moments. The task of Moshe Rabbenu was easy and pleasant, as everyone was eager to accept the Torah. They proclaimed in unison, “Na’ase VeNishma” – “We will do and obey” [Ex. 24:7]. The Talmud relates that the angels were so enthusiastic with this response, that they placed two crowns on the head of each Jew; one for na’ase and one for nishma. [Shabbat 88a]
Read more...Perasha Tessaveh 5777
Friday, March 10, 2017Purim and Pesah seem to have little in common beyond the fact that our ancestors were saved in both stories. During the exodus from Egypt, God overtly intervenes, and the rescue is part of a larger covenantal plan dating back to Abraham. In the Megillah, God works behind the scenes and is never mentioned. Mordekhai and Esther are genuine heroes in the Megillah, and the story is not associated with any broader covenantal plan. ...
Read more...Perashat Terumah 5777
Friday, March 03, 2017Perashat Terumah begins with Hashem's command to Beneh Yisrael to bring materials for the construction of the Mishkan. This marked the first "appeal" in Jewish history, and was also, without question, the most successful. As we read later, in Perashat Vayakhel, the people responded so generously that Moshe had to instruct them to stop donating, as the donations had already exceeded the amounts needed for the Mishkan. ...
Read more...Perashat Mishpatim 5777
Friday, February 24, 2017The question of whether or not to "repeal and replace 'Obama-care'" has been one of the most debated issues in this past election season, as well as during the infancy of the new presidential administration. Trying to create a fair and equitable health program affordable to all Americans, has been a daunting task for a number of decades. Aside from the difficulty for many citizens in affording health insurance, there have been allegations of mismanagement by the insurance companies as well as the inequitable practices of Health Maintenance Organizations in the care of their members, and the greed of the big pharmaceutical companies, who are said to be more interested in making large profits, rather than finding cures for chronic diseases. Going to the doctor is just not what it used to be, due to the bureaucracy involved. ...
Read more...Perashat Yitro 5777
Friday, February 17, 2017Without a doubt, the highlight of this week’s perasha, Yitro, is the Revelation at Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Ten Commandments. The Torah describes how Moshe Rabbenu instructed the people to prepare themselves for this event so that they would be able to take upon themselves the mantle of a people who would serve G-d as, “A kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” [Ex. 19:6] ...
Read more...Perashat Beshalah 5777
Friday, February 10, 2017This week’s perasha, Beshalah, highlights, among other things, the miraculous parting of the Sea, followed by the ‘Song of Moses’ – which marked the completion of B’nei Yisrael’s redemption from Egypt. The final stage of the redemption, however, was not to take place until six weeks later, with the Revelation of the Almighty at Sinai and the giving of the Law. Our sages, however, maintain, that some laws were already given – perhaps on a trial basis – at Marah; one of the way-stations on the route between Egypt and Mt. Sinai. (See BT Sanhedrin 58b). Among those laws was the missva of the Shabbat. The Torah itself alludes to this fact in the section regarding the Manna, the special food provided to the people by G-d in the desert. The text says: “See that G-d has given you the Shabbat; therefore He gives to you on Friday a double portion [of Manna]… (Exodus 16:29) ...
Read more...Apr 28 2024
Nisan 20 5784