Elul 10, 5778, 8/21/2018
 Peace and HanukkahJudah vs. Joseph Pinchas( Diaspora): Good things, small packagesIsrael needs those who bring about change. The flag of the State of IsraelThe flag is the symbol of everything the Jewish State should symbolize. Rav Wozner, Rav Kook and the OmerThe Jewish people as a synergetic entity. Ki Tavo: The Blessings of an Understanding HeartWhy the order in our Parsha, Ki Tavo? Albert Einstein and the ParshaThere is a connection. Read on. A National Day of IntrospectionYom Kippur is a day for individual introspection, this year Tisha B'Av calls for national rethinking. A New Middle League: Trade Peres for David BlattSpoof: With the rumored move of Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball coach David Blatt to the NBA, a whole new arena of activity can open up for outgoing President Shimon Peres, as he leaves office. The Sadigura Rebbe and Yom Haatzmaut‘Ribbono Shel Olam (Master of the Universe), may it be Thy will that I merit to take a broom and sweep the streets of Eretz Yisrael’, he prayed. MK Uri Orbach and "V'Rapo Yerapeh"MK Ofer Shelach of the Yesh Atid party presented legislation to allow assisted suicide in Israel. Contrast that to a Jew's morning prayers. A Chazan's Prayer for Kol NidreiA cantor (chazan) expresses his feelings before the sacred and solemn Kol Nidre service. Today the World was ConceivedCan the world have been created by chance? After the Death of Gay MarriageA clear explanation of the Torah attitude to homosexuality - and the future plans of fighters for gay marriage. Yom Ha’atzmaut on Haneviim StreetRabbi Drukman opens our eyes to the meaning of Yom Haatzmaut - and the writer finds it on a Jerusalem Street. Purim and the Bomb; Livni or Lau and Begin?Whom to believe: Livni, a failed politician who was one of Israel’s weakest, wimpiest FM's; her weak policies landed us in the pickle we are in today, or two Holocaust survivors, PM Begin and Rabbi Lau, who held the highest positions in this land. For Jerusalem DayReality is determined by the spirit of the people, and by the strong stand of those of faith. Jerusalem is ours forever. Tisha B'Av and Tunnel VisionThe "prat" is still exiled from the "klal".Balak: Dunno' Much About HistoryA primer on Jewish history in this week's parsha.Jerusalem: Kodesh KodashimWe should remember the Holy of Holies - Jerusalem.From Anopheles to Annapolis"What do you mean there is no kedushah?"Mishpatim: Statutory ChesedTaking the law into one's own hands.Imagining ChanukahImagination vs. intellect in the Chanukah lights.Gan Eden: Adam Names NamesNames, in the Hebrew language, reflect reality.Ki Tavo: Be HappyThe essence of Bikkurim.The Eye of GiantsSpeaking of things unseen.Cheesecake: King of FoodsThe holiday of King David and cheesecake.Iyar: Chodesh TovSome times are important on their own.Nissan and Aseret Yemei T'shuvahDays of t'shuvah via love of God.Purim: <I>Asher Yishl'tu HaYehudim</I>A central theme in the Megillah.Sherut LeumiThe importance of volunteerism in Judaism.<i>Mishpatim</i>: Listen Up!Hearing is central to this story.<I>Bo</I>: Moses and the Human Genome ProjectMan is sui generis, a totally separate species.Chanukah: And Thrice AgainThree views of interaction with the world.<i>Toldot</i> and Chronic Jewish Fatigue SyndromeIts sufferers are "cholei nefesh."The Mashiach and Rabbi Avraham Elkana ShapiraWhen you greet the Mashiach, remember this name...<I>Nitzavim-Vayelech</I>: Follow the LeaderThese two parshiot complement and contrast.<i>Ki Tavo</I>: Reversal of FortuneTurning evil into good.<i>Re'eh</I>: The Meating PlaceJews have always had their own cookbooks.<i>Shelach</I>: Spy NewsThe illustrative story of the evil of Lashon Hara.<I>Yom Ha'atzmaut: Shehechiyanu....</I>Who with a heart cannot feel moved enough?<I>Vayak'hel-Pekudei</I>: Triumph Over the Dark SideShabbat and Mishkan as an arsenal against evil.<I>Terumah</I>: The Lost Ark?A hidden Ark awaits the Third Temple.<I>Yitro</I>: Going the DistanceTwice, God tells Moshe <I>Rabbeinu</I> to warn the people not to come close to Mt. Sinai. In fact, Rashi comments that Moshe is puzzled by the second warning, and tells God that he's already relayed the order to distance men and animals from the Mountain of God; but God tells Moshe that he must warn the Jews a second time.<I>Shemot</I>: A Rose By Any Other NameIt seems that appearances and manner of speech are important. They can create reality. Our sages told us (<I>Shemot Rabbah</I>, chapter 13) that "<I>B'nei Yisrael</I> were redeemed from Egypt in the merit of the fact that they did not change their names, their language and their dress."The Ox Horn Incident"The Greeks ordered that the Jews write on the horns of their oxen: 'We have no part in the God of Israel.'" Why did Antiochus choose oxen? And even granted the agrarian nature of the Jewish nation, what did Antiochus hope to accomplish by such a bizarre decree?Hanukkah: Threes ReduxThe Torah is begging us to look for the three that runs through the whole Yaakov story, beginning in <I>parshat Vayishlach</i> and culminating in <I>parshat Miketz</I>, with its hints of Hanukkah. That three is found on the Codex of Hanukkah - the dreidel, the <I>sivivon</I>. Can you guess?<I>Toldot</I>: The Mothers of Our NationRivka <I>Imeinu</I> calls all the shots: in a one-of-a-kind prenatal diagnosis, only she is given the prophecy of the destinies of her twin boys. She recognizes the essences of the developing boys, and it is Rivka who devises and puts into motion the plan that brings the blessings to Yaakov.<I>Vayera</I> and Mt. Moriah"What is <I>Har HaMoriyah</I> (Mount Moriah)? The mount from which <I>hora'ah</I> (teaching, instruction, Torah) went out to Israel." (<I>Ta'anit</I> 16a) Rashi explains: "This refers to the <I>Lishkat HaGazit</I> (the Temple's office of hewn stone) in which stood prophets."<I>Breishit</I>: The Fourth HourAs we leave the Tishrei holiday period , we now enter the real, <I>gashmi</I> (as in <I>"mashiv haruach umorid hagashem"</I>) world.The Dance of SukkotAnd there was dancing at the <I>Simchat Beit HaShoeiva</I>. To explain it, one must return to Yom Kippur in the Temple.Rosh HaShanah: <I>Akeidat</I> YitzchakThe central lesson of Rosh HaShanah seems to have no relevance to the individual Jew as he prays for hours on the Jewish New Year.<I>Ki-Tavo</I>: The Jordan River RulesThe lesson of teamwork is of primary importance to our nation, a small, Jewish minority living in an overwhelmingly hostile Muslim Middle East. And the Torah stresses this lesson in this week's <I>parsha</I>.<I>Re'eh</I>: The <I>Trempist</i>This week's <I>Haftarah</I> portrays Israel, "afflicted, storm-tossed and not comforted," as it leaves the years of curse behind and returns to the Land of Israel. On "not comforted," the <I>Oznayim L'Torah</I> explained that there never was the option of coming to <I>Eretz Yisrael</I> and just sitting here like the Swiss in Switzerland.<I>Ekev</I>: The AgendaSuch is the power of <I>ekev</i> that David <I>HaMelech</I> said: "Why should I fear in the day of evil, the sin of <I>ekev</I> surround me?" (Psalms 49:6) To ignore <I>ekev</I> is to court disaster, but to uphold it, "Your servant is careful with Your commands, in keeping them is much reward (<I>ekev</i>)." (19:12)<I>Chukat</I>: Yiphtach and Peace NowThis week's <I>Haftorah</I> is the story of Yiphtach, in which an outcast from Gilead leads the Jews in victory over the Ammonite oppressor. The question is: why this <I>dvar Torah</I> for a <I>parsha</I> that features the <I>Parah Adumah</I>, and the deaths of Miriam, Aharon and Moshe?<I>Shelach Lecha</I>: Calev, Rabbi Zecharia and Hamlet<i>Anvetanusei</I> is a code-word, explains the Talner Rebbe, occurring twice in the Talmud, both times in relation to the same key player in the Temple's destruction on Tisha B'Av.Yom Ha'atzmaut: Affairs of the HeartIn our relations with our fellow Jews, of all stripes, religious or non-observant, gentle or rude, pleasant or unpleasant, the Torah imposes the obligation of being motivated by logic of the heart. |
