Elul 26, 5776, 9/29/2016
In today's headlines: תג בכותרות
 This One Feels DifferentThis Gaza War is full of twists and turns. Matot: Vows and CommitmentsThe ability to speak must be accompanied by values. The Terrible Truth About Civilian Casualties in GazaThere is more than one terrible truth in this article. Korach: Inflated EgoWhat made Korach rebel? A Tragedy of ErrorsLife is usually not so much a comedy of errors as it is a tragedy of errors. Praying for Peace in the VaticanWhat makes this entire public event somewhat questionable is the fact that neither Peres nor Abbas are well-known for participating in either public or private religious prayer. Ukraine and UsUkrainian anti-Semitism is a continuation of the legacy of Europe's persecution and hatred of the Jews, but Ukraine is a country with a prominent place in that hatred. Feminism and ChazakaThe area of greatest contention in today’s world regarding these matters relates to what is generally called “women’s issues. Past and PresentA false past is almost as dangerous as having no past at all. Shmini: And Aaron Remained SilentDeath and tragedy are all part of life. Ukraine and UsLike many other countries, ours included, Ukraine has the bad fortune of having to live in a very bad neighborhood. Still Ukraine holds a very prominent place in the sad and unreasonable story of the oppression of the Jews. Sin is a Constant Part of Life.Judaism does not allow for pie-in-the-sky, super angelic portrayals of human life.A Sad, Sad WorldLarge parts of the world and of its billions of people are enveloped in sadness, violence, injustice and death. Jeremiah JournalismIs it that bad? Requiem for a MovementThere is a dangerous trend that exists in the fringes of the Modern Orthodox Jewish world to imitate the errors of the Conservative movement. Simple CourtesyWhy is Yitro's arrival emphasized in the Torah? The Bulbs that Want to be ChangedChange requires inner will and determination to effect it. Jews are particularly subject to drives for change. Promises, PromisesAny voter with a modicum of sense knows or should know not to believe in the promises of political candidates. The Truth of SatireA little clever satire can be a good thing for us. The Land of Our ForefathersWhat is Yaakov’s stubborn attachment to living in the Land of Canaan? Heeding the GA's Call for More Soul in Jewish LIfeIf ignorant and unlettered – tragically, most of American Jewry is in that position with regard to Judaism - are almost automatically precluded from an attachment to their faith. Esau's Legacy: Implacable Hatred?The long dance of Jewish history does not leave Jews unimpaired. Old MagazinesRead the magazines of the Oslo era and weep. Events on the ground truly mock the past wisdom of journalistic experts. What was Isaac Thinking?Why give the blessing to Esau, who was known for being problematic? Background NoiseTorah has its own background melody. Giving Mother Sarah Her DueShe, too, had difficult tests to pass in her life, yet she rose above them. Vayera: Denying LogicRabbi Wein is the rabbi of Hanasi Synagogue in Jerusalem . Ezekiel and the Middle EastThe biblical prophet predicts an awful war of bloodshed in Syria, Babylonia (Iraq), Yemen and Arabia. Libya and Egypt will also be beset by civil war, much bloodshed and death, and economic deprivation. The Beginning of the Saga of the Jewish PeopleThis is where it starts, in this week's Torah portion. And the story is a prototype for Jewish existence. Monumental HubrisHuman beings destroy one another's vain attempts at immortality. After the HolidaysIsraelis use the expression "after the holidays" to postpone doing things during the month of Tishrei and wish one another a "good winter" at the end of Sukkot, whether they are sweltering in the heat or not. Beliefs and RealitiesIt is now "after the holidays". A message to take with us in our daily lives. The Seamlessness of TorahBereshit and Vezot Habracha are connected. A Permanent SukkahThe sukkah built of Torah and tradition, family and community, is what protected the Jews through the ages. Ego, Shame, Disgrace - So What?A time to look at how public life is run. Moshe's Review of His Life and Our Yearly ReviewWho can claim greater merits in this world than Moshe had? Yet the hand of human mortality struck him down. Jerusalem Has No Natural WondersThe Talmud poses for us the question: “Why are the hot springs of Israel located in Tiberias and not in Jerusalem?” Undoing the PastThe past is prejudicially judged by the current standards of behavior and probity. Ekev: Cause and EffectAll attempts to accommodate eternal Jewish practices and values to fit current fads and societal norms, have ended in abysmal failure. Chief Rabbinate: Career or CallingIs the Chief Rabbinate a career that affords monetary benefits and power or is it a spiritual calling to be approached with humility and trepidation. The Structure of Jewish LifeThe Torah in this week’s parsha, in order to help and guide us, gives us a formula to achieve the elusive goal of contentment Realizing Society's ShortcomingsAren't the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah talking about impossible demands? The problems they discuss have plagues society form time immemorial. The Messenger and the MessageShooting the messenger and disregarding the message is the norm here but it is a dangerous and very self-defeating norm. Reuven/Gad SyndromeGad and Reuven's request had repercussions. Pinchas and PeaceWhat kind of peace was promised to Pinchas? Bilaam is The First Human Rights ActivistHe speaks beautifully, but the venom is there. Beware of Those Who Speak in the People's NameAlways beware of those who speak in the name of the people. Most of the time they are only imitations of Korach. Altruism over Personal GainThe struggle to include others – family, community, fellow Jews and human beings generally – into our worldview is the story of our lives and existence. Our leaders are no different. The High Priest's TaskAharon’s general role in Jewish society served to remind all of the real purpose of the Temple. Why We Need Spiritual LevitesThe actions of this tribe need emulation today. Why Call a Book of the Torah "In the Desert?"The message of the desert and the water that can turn it into flourishing land. Jerusalem Day MemoriesSince 1967 Israel gave away Sinai, Gaza, much of the 'West Bank', the Temple Mount, recognized the establishment of a state, fought many wars and endured continuing terrorist attacks, signed a number of meaningless agreements, all fruitless. Jewish DestinyJewish history is not to be seen as a random occurrence of events. Frustrations: The Jewish ViewSomeone who is haughty, arrogant and full of hubris will automatically live a life of frustration and anger. Common Sense: Hareidi and National Religious PartiesIt was common sense for the religious Zionist and hareidi parties to joing forces. They didn't and we got Lapid's anti-Torah invective in the Knesset. |
