Rabbi's Weekly Message
Perashat Shemot
Friday, January 09, 2015Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (24 November 1808 – 29 September 1890) was a French critic, journalist, and novelist who coined the phrase “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose"—"the more it changes, the more it's the same thing", usually translated as "the more things change, the more they stay the same," it was published for the first time in Les Guêpes, January 1849. This week we witnessed a heinous terrorist attack in Paris at the Charlie Hebdo French Magazine. Even as I am writing this newsletter I am informed that a terrorist hostage crisis is unfolding in Paris. In a Kosher supermarket, 11 people mostly women and children are being held hostage, not that holding male hostages is any less grave. What started as an attack on the magazine’s offices, ended up stirring anti semitic sentiments and resulted in an attack on a Jewish target. It is only because the environment is ripe with attacks on Israel, de-legitimization and the demonization of the Jews in Europe and in the media with impunity, that more attacks are perpetuated against Jewish targets. ...
Read more...Perashat Vayehi
Friday, January 02, 2015Blessings occupy a prominent place in the Torah and specifically in the book of Bereshit. From the moment of creation when G-d blessed all the creatures to be fruitful and multiply, to our own times when we go to seek the blessings of a righteous individual, the concept of blessing played and plays an increasingly important role in our lives. Perashat Vayehi, tells the story of Yaakob conferring his blessing to Yosef and to his children Ephraim and Menashe; and later on to his own children, the 12 tribes. ...
Read more...Perashat Vayigash
Friday, December 26, 2014We all have heard and used the idiom “Step up to the plate”. Its literal meaning is for a batter in baseball to move near home plate in preparation for striking the ball when it is pitched. Other meanings however, have been assigned to this idiom. It could mean to move into a position where one is ready to do a task, or to take responsibility for doing something. Perashat Vayigash begins with relating how Yehuda ‘stepped up to the plate’ and took responsibility of defending his youngest brother Binyamin when he realized that he was in danger of being taken prisoner by Yosef. Yehuda used all his presence and power to right what he saw was wrong and maintain the family intact. Despite the differences and previous acrimony between the brothers, Yehuda understood that after all, they are children of one father and have one destiny. ...
Read more...Perashat Mikess
Friday, December 19, 2014Our society places a great deal of importance on the concept of Freedom. Revolutions and wars have been fought in pursuit of freedom. The entire Western Civilization rests on the concept of individual freedoms and liberties. It is the raison d’être of modern society. Perashat Mikess recounts the moment in which Yosef, after being imprisoned for 12 years was released and found his freedom and liberty. Yosef was rushed out of the dungeon, given a shave and a change of clothes and placed in front of Pharaoh. Our Sages comment on the words “rushed him” and ask why is it that Yosef had to be rushed out of prison? Could he have taken his time to shower, shave and change his clothes in a relaxed manner? Why did he have to be rushed? ...
Read more...Perashat Vayesheb
Friday, December 12, 2014It is said “you fool me once, shame on you; you fool me twice shame on me”. What kind of people would allow themselves to be fooled twice? Is it that they are not aware of it or are they “gluttons for punishment”? Perashat Vayesheb, this week begins by telling us about the sibling rivalries between Joseph and his brothers. This discord began with childish rivalry and went on to jealousy and reached the level of hatred. After that paragraph, the brothers went to pasture the flock in Shekhem. Jacob asks his favorite son Joseph to “go and look into the welfare of his brothers and the flock and bring back word to him”. The rest of the story, we know very well; Joseph is received with great animosity and the result was that they sold him into slavery to a caravan of Ishmaelites going to Egypt. ...
Read more...Perashat Vayishlah
Friday, December 05, 2014In this week's perasha, we read about the encounter between Yaakob and Esav. After more than a generation of separation, Yaakob, who had fled the wrath of Esav, is returning home with a large family and much wealth. Yaakob is told that Esav is fast approaching with four hundred fighting men. The drama ensues; will it be an all-out war or will they make peace? Yaakob prepares for all eventualities and also sends a message to his hostile brother: "Im Lavan garti," Yaakob declares, "I have lived with Laban [for all these years]." ...
Read more...Perashat Vayesse
Friday, November 28, 2014This week’s perasha starts with the journey of Yaakob Abinu, who must leave the safe environs of his parents’ home in Canaan in order to go to Haran, the country of his ancestors, to seek an appropriate wife. The Torah tells us that on the way to Haran, he needed to sleep over for the night and he had the famous dream of the ladder reaching from the earth to the heavens, with the Angels of G-d ascending and descending upon it. What was the significance of this dream, and why did it occur at this particular time during his life when he was on his way to the house of his uncle Laban? ...
Read more...Perashat Toledot
Friday, November 21, 2014In this week’s perasha, we are introduced for the very first time, to the conflict between Esav and Yaakob; something which spans the next two perashiot in the Torah – and an eternity in the history of man. We are told that the conflict begins in utero, continues with the selling of the birthright, the competition for their father’s blessing, the flight of Yaakob to Mesopotamia in order to avoid his brother’s wrath, the struggle with the angel said to be the representative of Esav, and finally, a face-to-face confrontation between Yaakob and Esav upon his return to Canaan. ...
Read more...Perashat Haye Sarah
Friday, November 14, 2014This week’s perasha opens with the detailed story of how Abraham Abinu negotiated a burial place for his beloved wife Sarah with the Hittites. The Midrash describes Ephron, the Hittite leader, as a person who was "nivhal l'hon" – a person who became confused when he saw the amount of money that Abraham Abinu was prepared to give for the burial site. Rabbi Y. Frand points out that something does not seem right with that description. When Abraham Abinu approached the Hittites and told them that he needed a burial plot, Ephron himself got up in front of everyone and graciously offered Abraham Abinu a burial plot at no charge whatsoever. He offered it as an outright present, saying in essence that it would be a privilege to be able to give Abraham Abinu the land. ...
Read more...Perashat Vayera
Friday, November 07, 2014In this week’s perasha we learn of the great missva of hakhnasat orehim - hospitality – from Abraham Abinu. The perasha opens with G-d’s revelation to Abraham which is interrupted by the presence of three persons who were in need of hospitality. Excusing himself from G-d’s presence, Abraham ran with enthusiasm to greet his guests offering them deluxe accomodations and a five-star meal, headed up with pat lehem, bread, the staff of life. The Midrash explains, that in stark contrast, Lot’s wife, who was heartless like the rest of the inhabitants of Sedom and did not want to offer hospitality to the guests who appeared on her doorstep, went to all her neighbors and asked them, 'Give me melah - salt, as we have guests.' Her intention was that the townspeople should become aware of the presence of these men and drive them from town. ...
Read more...Apr 20 2024
Nisan 12 5784