News for Parshat Shavua Talking Parsha - Lech Lecha: Avraham can't find room for Lot?What exactly happened in the story of Avraham and Lot? And how did someone who grew up in Avraham's home end up in Sdom? The secret of Jewish survivalUltimately, Jewish history is fashioned and determined by those individuals who are motivated by passion and directed by faithfulness. Go, go, and keep going - you can be anything you want to beG-d did not tell Abraham to "depart". He said "go". What message was G-d sending? Abraham the innovatorAbraham is the first human being recorded as having a normal conversation with his Creator. The insular nature of the CovenantToday's nations want Israel to go alone, in the hope that Iran will destroy the annoying Jewish state. Abraham too had to fight alone. The hidden conflict behind the Battle of the KingsWhy would a battle between ancient kingdoms get such prominence in the parasha? Was it all that it seems? How responsible was Noah for the flood?In Isaiah, the flood is called "the waters of Noah." What does that imply?The Parsha and Current Events: Thoughts on the world todayIt is 5782 years from the time humans appeared and began destroying the beautiful world that Hashem created for them.Talking Parsha - Bereshit: The real story of Adam and ChavaOn the most basic level, we have to ask why, in the story of Adam and Eve, does the Torah repeat the word 'arumim?' What does it mean?Paradise lostMilton's epic poem describes the impossibility of returning to Paradise once lost. The Torah presents that return as a challenge.. No more, no less: A powerful storyThe first letter of the Torah is bet, the last is lamed. Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson spoke of the letters before and after bet and lamed. Simchat Torah reading: Calling up the bridegroomsThere is a good reason to celebrate the end of the cycle of Torah readings, but why delay it until a month after the end of the year?Talking Parsha - Sukkos: Why do we read THIS on Shabbat Chol Hamo'ed?This Shabbat we read about the Sin of the Golden Calf and afterwards, the Second Tablets. What's the connection between that & the holiday? Weekly Torah Study: Vezot HabrachaMoshe blesses the tribes of Israel before his death, beginning his words with fiery imagery. Why? Moshe Rabbeinu - dead or aliveDid Moshe Rabbeinu transcend death? In this week's parasha, Vezot Habracha, his death is described, but the Talmud says something else. The Torah - not just another app!We cannot just lounge around feet up swiping our devices or listening to Torah as we travel to workTalking Parsha - Ha'azinu & Sukkot: Why is Moshe's last speech a song?This week's Torah portion is actually a song, a poem. But it's also unlike the song the People of Israel sang at the splitting of the Sea.Ultimate witnessesNature itself, with all its wonders, unpredictability, and beauty is the greatest testimony regarding the covenant between God and Israel.Talking Parsha - Nitzavim & Rosh Hashanah: What makes the easiest mitzvah so hard?In one of his last speeches to the Jewish People, Moshe refers to 'this mitzvah.' Later he describes the opposite attitude. Why? The Covenant with those who are not here with us todayIn Nitzavim, the Covenant with Hashem is described as binding future generations. How could those present bind those who are not present? A nation of storytellersTo know who we are is, in large part, to understand the story or stories of which we are a part.Talking Parsha - Ki Teitze: Did you have to say that?The Torah tells us not to be late fulfilling a vow & says a person who didn't vow, didn't sin. Why would we think of not vowing as a sin? Ki Tetze: The beautiful captive womanThe Netziv asks:’’What is this beautiful woman, adorned and dressed in her finery, doing in battle?’" When a marriage failsA plea for peace and understanding. Divorce, with all its hurt, uncertainty and loss should not lead to lifelong enmity. Ki Teitsei: The real reason we love to give foodFood: making it, sharing it, giving it. so deeply ingrained in Jewish culture. Why it's important to give, even where food isn't lacking! Shoftim: How Jews went to warThe Torah exempts three categories of men from going out to a voluntary war. And it explains why.Shoftim: We are separate but always togetherWe are individuals in our own right and at the same time we are part of our nation. The weekly Torah portion as a medium for growthThe Rabbis intended that the structure of each portion be studied to teach a message unto itself.Talking Parsha - Re'eh: What makes it THE place?Moshe commands the nation to destroy idol worship upon entering the Land of Israel - but not do do the same to G-d. What does this mean?Re’eh: What we have always had is new every day!How we should relate to the mitzvot on every day of our lives - how lucky we are! Eikev: Balancing Torah and WorkThe amount of time devoted to a particular activity is not the sole factor in determining that this is our main pursuit in life.Un-Jewish? Un-Rabbinic?Is it "un-Jewish” and "un-rabbinic” to hope that Hashem, the God of justice, mercy and truth punish all who have wronged His people? Weekly Torah Study for Eikev: 'Not by bread alone'What, then, does sustain man? The forty year-long UlpanDuring their forty years of desert wandering, the most crucial lessons of Israel's essence were tested and learned.Reward and punishmentWhat are we to make of the obviously literal lesson that this week's Torah portion seemingly teaches us? Jealousy’s a hungry heartHow can we ensure our wants are not driven by envy?Va'etchanan: In mind and heartWhat is the difference between “knowing it” and “pondering it in our heart”?Weekly Torah Study: Va'etchananThe oneness and unity of G-d was a revolutionary revelation enunciated in this week's Torah reading.Talking Parsha - Va'etchanan: Shema Yisrael - Why is it so fundamental?'Hear O Israel' wasn't said so dramatically as it seems. Why did it become such an important part of our life, and what makes it so special? Va'etchanan: Climate Change and Moshe RabbeinuA very current message about climate change can be derived from the actions of Moshe Rabbeinu.BashertThe aptitude to live and function within the limitations of one's own shortcomings is a great talent which many do not possess. The fewest of all peoplesWe may be the fewest of all peoples, but when we heed God’s call, we have the ability,to mend and transform the world.Devarim: Di Zahav - Too much goldDo you know anyone who had enough money and refused to accept more?Devarim: AccountabilityFrom Moses, we see that It is impossible for truths to be described without the personality and subjective view of the person doing so. Parshat Mattot-Masai: The legend of Billy the NederThe laws of vows are there for us to contemplate the awesome power contained in our speech.Talking Parsha - Matot Masei: Moshe's final mission is revenge?!The last mission given to Moses is to avenge what Midian did to the People of Israel. Why revenge, and why is this his final mission?Matot-Massei: Pack this in your bags – it doesn’t weigh anythingWhen travelling, the most important thing to take with us doesn’t weight anything at all.Are Mattot and Maasei read together only for calendar convenience or is there more?There must be a connecting bond, a common denominator that unites these two apparently disparate and different sections of the Torah. Unique and 'regular' everyday – Both powerfulMoshe had saved the nation before with prayer, by reasoning and imploring. Pinchas saved them by acting, violently and definitively.'Between the gates'Being born between the gates empowered Yocheved to feel free. To not allow Egypt to invade her mind, her psyche, her sense of self. And you? Pinchas and the best invitation everIn this parasha, an invitation arrives from Hashem Himself in order to enable us to have a life changing experience. Be sure to RSVP. Torah gives Balaam a bad press – undeservedly, he thinksThe Israelites are basically off stage. They are bystanders while he, Balaam, does things to them and for them.The Parsha and Current Events: The root of our fearsHashem expects the Jewish nation to live with trust in Him, without fear of the gentiles. Weekly Torah study: ChukatWater plays a major role in this week's parasha.Chukat:Living watersWe need to stop, rest and drink deeply from living waters before continuing the arid wilderness we seem to have entered. Watch: The Temple - a place of lifeRabbi Shmuel Eliyahu explains why, when Aaron is in the right place, and the Divine Presence is there, even a dry stick of wood can blossom.Talking Parsha - Korach: A blossoming staff - that's what makes the difference?After the earth swallows Korach and his followers, the Jews come to Moses angry - and only stop arguing after Aaron's staff blossoms. Why? |
