One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell God that modern mankind was done with Him. The scientist went to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that we no longer need you.… Continue reading The Meaning of Lice
“…he will rejoice in his heart.”
Shemos 5770 Hashem tells Moshe that his older brother Aharon will serve as his spokesperson, and He further comments to him that when Aharon “sees you he will rejoice in his heart” (Shemos 4:14). Our Sages lavishly praise Aharon for not being jealous nor taking issue with his younger brother – who had been missing… Continue reading “…he will rejoice in his heart.”
Justifications
When Paroah notices how numerous B’nai Yisrael became in Egypt, he enslaves them, saying to his people “הָבָה נִתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ,” “Let us deal wisely with him.” The Gemara (Sotah 11a) states that Paroah did not intend to outsmart the Children of Israel, but rather to outsmart “the Savior of Israel,” Hashem. הבה נתחכמה לו להם… Continue reading Justifications
Becoming a Nation
There is a book called The Fugu Plan, which tells the story of a Japanese plot to encourage Jews to move to Japan following World War II. The Japanese leadership was presented with a translated copy of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and, in a move entirely at odds with other nations’ reactions… Continue reading Becoming a Nation
Moshe’s Judgment
וַיִּפֶן כֹּה וָכֹה, וַיַּרְא כִּי אֵין אִישׁ; וַיַּךְ, אֶת-הַמִּצְרִי, וַיִּטְמְנֵהוּ, בַּחוֹל “And he turned, this way and that and he saw that there was no person. He struck the Egyptian and buried him in the sand.” (Shemos 2:12) This pasuk occurs after Moshe has left the luxury of Pharoah’s home and goes to see how… Continue reading Moshe’s Judgment
The Power of Names
This week’s Dvar Torah is dedicated for a Refuah Sheleima for Sarah Freida bat Shoshana. הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל אֹתִי מִכָּל-רָע, יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-הַנְּעָרִים, וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי, וְשֵׁם אֲבֹתַי אַבְרָהָם וְיִצְחָק; וְיִדְגּוּ לָרֹב, בְּקֶרֶב הָאָרֶץ. The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named in them, and the name… Continue reading The Power of Names
“The humble will inherit the Earth”
VaYechi 5770 Yaakov Avinu gave priority in his blessing of Yosef’s sons to the younger of the two, Efraim. The Ba’al HaTurim finds a hint in the Torah’s description of the event that Efraim was honoured above his brother because “he had humbled himself.” Humility is often not given its due admiration in our society;… Continue reading “The humble will inherit the Earth”
Care for the the victimizer?
Parshat VaYigash serves as the climax of the last few weeks of parshiot, wherein Yosef is finally reunited with his brothers and with Yaakov 22 years after being sold away to slavery. There is a famous question asked about Yosef’s actions during these 22 years. Why didn’t Yosef try and contact his father to let… Continue reading Care for the the victimizer?
Is Rashi Bothered by Bowing?
One of the famous stories of Channukah is that of Channah, who instructed her seven sons to be killed rather than bow down to Antiochus. Jews, even now, often have a very strong aversion to bowing, and are often perturbed when visiting countries in the Far East, or participating in martial arts, where bowing is used as a formal greeting.
“Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation”
Mikeitz – Shabbos Chanukah 5770 “[T]he wicked Greek Kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to force them to transgress the statutes of Your will. It was then that You in Your great compassion stood by them in the time of their distress” (Al HaNissim). The Eish Kodesh… Continue reading “Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation”