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If God is with us, who can be against us? In this portion of the Torah, Yitro (named after a Gentile), the Israelites received the Ten Sayings or Commandments. This is not only Israel’s constitution, it is also for the entire world. There is so much to learn from the revelation of the Bore Olam, […]
Live freely! “And Israel saw the great power that the Lord exercised against the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the LORD and Moses His servant.” (Shemot 14:31) This verse is so profound that it made me think of the development of emunah (faith) in our lives. If we step […]
What is the Purpose of God’s Signs? The first two verses of Parashat Bo say, “Then YHVH said to Moses, ‘Go to Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants so that I may display My signs among them and so that you may recount to your child and your […]
Are we Slaves or are we Free? In Parashat Vaera (“He appeared”), the Creator appeared to Moshe saying that He did not make Himself known to his forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob asיהוה Yud Heh Vav Heh (YHVH). This could seem to be misleading because they knew the name YHVH. The verb “to know” implies […]
Who am I? “And these are the names of the children of Israel who entered Egypt……Shemot 1:1.” This verse and the development of this parashah bring to mind the importance of having a name, an identity, an origin, and a future. A main principle in the Human Rights Act of 1959 establishes that “The child […]
Have you dealt with your past? When I began the book of Genesis this year, I decided to teach how to apply the Torah to our lives instead of dealing with theology. One of the most difficult things for us to learn is how to forgive, and especially how to forgive ourselves. Most of our […]
Joseph and Judah, the Two Messiahs In Vayigash (he approached), we come upon the encounter of two of the twelve sons of Jacob. We saw how Jacob had to flee his brother and go to Haran where his father-in-law exploited him. After twenty years, he left a wealthy man, with eleven sons, a daughter and […]
What is Spirituality? Many people have said to me ‘Oh, I’m very spiritual’; some say it with a lot of pride. But what I have learned from the Torah is that spirituality from God has nothing to do with pride; all our Biblical heroes had to go through experiences that humbled them before they could […]
How do we get out of the pit? “I have greatly hoped in the Lord, and He extended [His ear] to me and heard my cry. And he brought me out of the thundering pit, out of the thick mud, and He set my feet on the rock, established my steps.” (Tehillim 40:2-3) I think […]
With Whom Do You Associate? In Parashat Vayishlach, we read about the encounter between Jacob and Esau when Jacob is finally returning home. Our sages vary in their opinions about Esau’s character and even our prophets have given him a terrible reputation such as Malachi 1:3: “Yes, I have loved Jacob, and Esau I have […]
