Judaism (Page 29)

Vayigash:

'I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?'

Why did Joseph ask a question to which he had already been give the answer?

Hanukkah and its aftermath: The mother of all price-tags

In historical terms, the Maccabean Revolt was the beginning of the end of the Seleucid Empire. Moral: Don't mess with the Jewish religion.

Olam Haba and dreams

The gravity and majesty of olam haba and dreams are ever-present themes in the world.

Revivim:

The damage wrought by the Evil Eye

The evil eye (ayin ha’ra) causes harm in both visible and hidden levels, first a loss of a person’s self-confidence and on a hidden, deeper level, just as a person’s negative thoughts about themselves can harm their body, they can also affect others, and harm them.

Personal Growth series:

G-d In our hearts and minds

What is the way we walk before G-d? How do we remember Him during the day?

Yehuda the Maccabee was a realist

Spirtual Q & A on Hanukkah that brings the past to bear on the present.

Watch: Tanya video/lecture on the Holy Epistle

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Miracles – then and now

The process is unfolding before our eyes. Day by day, the light of Israel increases. How blessed we are to be a part of the miracles of Hanukah at this time.

From Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner zts"l's teachings:

Hanukkah: How Torah forgetfulness caused the Renaissance of Torah

There was a major shift in the world of Torah scholarship 2,200 years ago. A new light was born in response to the Greeks' darkness that, paradoxically, strengthened Torah scholarship for all time.

'As long as the candle burns...'

There are compelling parallels between the 1948 knocks as expounded by Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik and the 2023-4 post Oct 7th events.

Hanukkah – The Movie

As a legendary actor of Hollywood teaches: “When you have to shoot – shoot.”

The darkness of Yavan lives on for us to overcome with light

Like the Hashmoneans, we have to stand steadfast against the ideology of Yavan as seen in the UN, ICC and academia. With courage, conviction and Jewish pride, we must expose the darkness for what it is.

A year filled with miracles. Let us count them this Hanukkah

It has been a year filled with tragedy and suffering, but as G-d performed miracles for us in those days, He performs miracles for us now. When we say the second blessing over the lights, think about those miracles.

The Jews and the Greeks

G-d charged the Jews, with responsibility for the spiritual perfection of the world, and He charged the Greeks with responsibility for the physical perfection of the world. A harmonious symbiosis which collapsed when the Greeks sought control.

Rav Kook Torah:

Hanukkah: The sacred protects itself

Rabbi Kook explains how Knesset Yisrael knows how to join heaven and earth.

Parshat Mikeitz:

The Truest Wisdom is the Domain of the Torah

This week’s Parshah continues the story of Yosef, and his rising from the ashes of an Egyptian prison to the rank of Viceroy, second only to Pharaoh

Le’David Barchi Nafshi: Miketz

How Joseph achieved greatness

“For God was with him - the name of God was always on his lips.”

Miketz:

Why was Pharaoh blown away by Joseph?

The State of the Jewish Nation means navigating paradox.

Shimon the Maccabee wrote 2015 years ago: This land is our land!

Shimon the Maccabee’s words remind us that this is not the first time our rights have been challenged. They also help us formulate a response.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Miketz

"Everything that happened to Joseph happened to Zion"

Young, Religious Zionist Torah scholars explore the connection between the Toraph portion of the week and the Holy Land.

Chief Rabbi's guidelines for soldiers lighting Hanukkah candles

Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef publishes guidelines for soldiers in the field and travelers for the lighting of the Hanukkah candles.

Begin, Joseph, and the Maccabees of Today

Events that occur at a Biblical level of open miracles can still happen.

Torah Mitzion:

The secret of Hanukkah in the promise to Aharon HaKohen

Rashi explains the juxtaposition of the section on the menorah to the section on the offerings of the princes, but what does it mean for our time?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

First, establish the facts…

If you want to solve a problem, you need to have the facts, whether they are needed to solve Pharaoh's dreams or the was in Gaza and Lebanon.

Pharaoh: There is no one as wise and discerning as you, Joseph

Who asked Yosef to offer his advice, in addition to proffering the solution to the dream, with which he was charged?

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch:

Miketz: Rejoicing in another's happiness

Pity comes naturally; sympathy doesn't.

Hanukkah this year has a very special meaning

Of course, Aliyah is the only answer, but while the Rabbis I met are aware of the instability of continued Diaspora existence, in my opinion, a lingering spirit of denial prevents them from seeing how immediate the danger is.

Rabbi Sacks resources for Hanukkah

"The Jewish People kept hope alive and hope kept the Jewish People alive." What words can better uplift the Jewish People today?

Lights of unity

Not only is it possible to prevent a war between Jews, but moreover, we can bring them to love one another. We must dispel the darkness by increasing the light, as we gaze at the Hanukkah candles.

First night of Hanukkah: One candle or eight?

The famous dispute between the Sages is another instance where Hillel's school of thought sees the world as it is, Shammai's sees the world as it should ideally be. In today’s imperfect world, we follow Hillel’s rulings.

Revivim:

Non-Jewish holidays and Gregorian Calendar dates

It is forbidden for a Jew to celebrate the holidays of another religion and it is not appropriate to celebrate civil holidays that were originally religious holidays.

Watch: Tanya video/lecture on Igeret Hakodesh

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Maximizing Mitzvot: The importance of living in Eretz Yisrael

There are several key mitzvot that can only be fulfilled in Israel, and many others can be enhanced in ways that aren't possible in Chutz L'aretz.

The Jewish heart is beating stronger than ever

No, we have not betrayed our mission: Yehudah, Tamar and a Hanukkah Drama.

Personal Growth series:

Our G-d

Though Hashem created all human beings in His image, He chose us as His children.

The Saving of Yosef, and Reuvain's Purity of Heart

This week’s Parshah contains the unfortunate saga of Yosef and his brothers–Yosef

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Vayeishev: The special teshuvah of Reuben

After repairing his soul, Reuben returned and looked at the pit.

Le’David Barchi Nafshi:

Vayeishev: Joseph's complete trust in God

Everyone knows the wounds of their own heart, and everyone knows in what places they must strive to become stronger to completely trust in God.

The Parsha and Current Events:

Sudden and extreme changes

Something big is happening now in our world; changes which are on a Biblical scale.

Yosef's two dreams

Selected commentaries explain why Joseph's brothers were angered by his dreams.

Vayeishev:

Where do they need me?

The greatest test of Emunah is to make changes to one’s life when things are going well.

Vayeishev:

Three guarantors

Three guarantors for the coming of Mashiach are alluded to in the three pieces of collateral that Yehudah gave to Tamar, the ancestress of the Mashiach.

Torah Mitzion:

The ancient source of Jewish resilience

Jewish resilience is incomparable, but when we understand who our ancestors were and the values they inculcated into us, we begin to understand where it comes from.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

How can we bring peace between rivals?

Parashat Vayeishev portrays the dilemma of Jacob and his rival sons.

Parashat Vayeishev:

The impure sources of Redemption

First, how could the Mashiach be the product of a problematic union? Surely his ancestry has to be unblemished!

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch: Vayeshev

Why Shechem?

Equality before G-d is supposed to govern human society.

Shimon and Levi did not blame the victim

What Shimon and Levi did was extraordinary both for their time, and for the geographical region. It still is today in parts of the world. They did not blame the victim, they blamed the perpetrator, taking a Torah-based stand and calling rape an abomination.

Good, evil, and growth

God created the world and everything in it, including evil and suffering, in order to benefit His creations. Man’s view is narrow and limited, unable to see the bigger picture. From this, we can strengthen our faith that everything God does is for the good

The effects of the Greek confrontation with the Jewish People

A New Era of Torah Transmission. How and why it came about.

Personal Growth series:

Our foundational relationship

Two descriptions encapsulate Hashem’s relationship with our world.

Watch: Tanya video lecture on Igeret Hakodesh

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Matan Emunah Essay:

Kislev: On the Path of Love

Chanukah is a time to strengthen the positive energy in the home, as the mitzvah is emphasized as נר איש וביתו (Shabbat 21b), an obligation on the family to add light to the home.

MIGA (Make Israel Godly Again)

Israel and Israel alone must decide to return to holiness and the promise of Divine protection and victory.

When the Nations whisper

Today, we can see how Israel represents both tremendous power and military and moral might, as well as its antithesis, vulnerability and frailty.

Decline of the West in the Book of Ovadia

Yes, Esav rises high up to the top of the ladder, but eventually Hashem orchestrates his fall. It was prophesied then and it is happening before our eyes.

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Vayishlach: Pillars and sanctuaries

Why does it matter whether the worshippers gather around a pillar outside or pray inside a sanctuary?