Ancient Connection – Modern Pioneers
Every school child knows the story. God told Moses to go speak to Pharaoh. Moses came to the evil Pharaoh and spoke the iconic words, “Let my people go!” But with all due respect to wonderful kindergarten songs, a simple perusal of our parsha reveals that this is actually not what Moshe Rabbeinu said. Throughout […]
As Yaakov Avinu gathers the shevatim around his deathbed, he blesses them and prophesizes about their future. The Gemara Pesachim (56a) famously tells us that as Yaakov prepared to reveal eschatological secrets, the Divine Presence departed from him. He worried that one of his son’s may be inadequate to receive the prophecy, “perhaps, God forbid, […]
After Yosef reveals his identity to the brothers, the Torah describes the emotional reunion between Yosef and Binyamin. They share the same mother, Rachel, and Binyamin was very young when his older brotherdisappeared. One can only imagine the intensity of emotion when they embraced after 22 years of separation. “And he fell on his brother […]
There is something strange about the way that all Jews celebrate Chanukah. Almost all Jews progressively add one candle a night, lighting one candle on the first day, two on the second day, etc. But according to the Gemara (Shabbos 21a), the mitzvah of lighting candles on Chanukah can be fulfilled by simply lighting one […]
The conflict between Yosef and his brothers is a jarring and painful chapter in our history. In many ways, we still suffer from the consequences of mechirat Yosef to this day. Rav Elchanan Wasserman tz’l is known to have suggested that the bloodied-coat deception employed by the brothers was a spiritual antecedent for the vicious […]
After Yaakov settles outside the city of Shechem, his daughter Dinah is kidnapped and violated by Shechem. The pesukim provide a detailed description of Shechem’s infatuation with Dinah. The Midrash Rabba (80:7) identifies four distinct words used by the Torah to describe his obsession with the daughter of Yaakov. ותדבק נפשו בדינה, his soul cleaved […]
As Yaakov Avinu experiences his dream of the supernal ladder, God promises him that the land upon which he lies will belong to Yaakov and his descendants. The Gemara Chullin notes that this covenant does not initially sound so encouraging. After all, Yaakov was technically lying on a mere four cubits of earth. While we […]
By Rabbi Efrem Goldberg Can I deny everything I believe in? On the other hand, can I deny my own child? On the other hand how can I turn my back on my faith, my people? If I try to bend that far I will break. On the other hand… There is no other hand. — […]
As Yaakov Avinu impersonates Eisav and enters Yitzchak’s presence, the elderly and blind Yitzchak comments on the scent of Yaakov’s garments. “ראה ריח בני כריח שדה אשר ברכו ה’, see the smell of my son is like the aroma of a field that was blessed by God.” Chazal are perturbed by Yitzchak’s enthusiasm over this […]
During a recent visit into the Shiloach I had the opportunity to explore some of the latest Jewish property that had recently been returned to Jewish hands after Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that Arabs had been squatting on the property for decades. The newest property is part of the Yemenite Village, a large area in […]
