Parshat Lech Lecha: A Journey of Self-Discovery Rabbi Kenneth Brander Lech Lecha sets into motion the ancient journey which lay the groundwork for Am Yisrael’s enduring connection with Eretz Yisrael. Yet the formulation of the text begs for elucidation. While this parsha finds Avraham and Sara leading the charge, only a few verses earlier, in… Continue Reading Parshat Lech Lecha – a Journey of Self-Discovery
Parashat Lech Lecha: Recalculating Our Route Never over the duration of thousands of years of exile have we ever renounced our faith in the Holy One, Blessed Be He or stopped yearning to return to Zion. Today, when most Jews live in the Land of Israel, we face complex and unprecedentedly intense challenges. by Rabbi… Continue Reading Parshat Lech Lecha – Recalculating Our Route
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “…and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) Our biblical tradition seems to live in a constant paradox of tension between the universal and the particular; our obligations to the world at large and our obligations… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Lech Lecha 5779
Parashat Noach: The ‘b’nei Elohim’ will meet their fate at Babel In this week’s Parasha, Hashem takes a new approach: rather than banish or annihilate, He empowers. The greater the knowledge, the rifer the controversy. Languages become muddled as the gate to heaven gives way to the utter pandemonium we call Babel. by Rabbi Shlomo VilkRosh… Continue Reading Parshat Noach – The ‘b’nei Elohim’ will meet their fate at Babel
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32) By Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Noah was a righteous man, whole-hearted in his generations; Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) Was Noah truly righteous? And what does true righteousness entail? At first blush, this shouldn’t even be a question. Surely, the opening verse of the portion suggests that… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Noach 5779
Parshat Bereishit: Connecting Between Sacred and Profane Rabbi Kenneth Brander As we begin reading the Torah anew and are reintroduced to the story of Creation, one seemingly trivial point often goes unnoticed: the fact that humankind is conceived and born specifically on “yom vav” – the sixth day of Creation. Perhaps reflecting the very essence… Continue Reading Parshat Bereishit – Connecting Between Sacred and Profane
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Bereshit (Genesis 1:1-6:8) By Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Why does the Torah, the word of God given to Moses as His legacy to the Jewish people, begin with an account of creation, going off into gardens of Eden and towers… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Bereishit 5779
Parshat Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) Rabbi David Stav Ironically, the only two Torah portions whose names contain the word “chayyim” – life – center on death. The first is Parshat Chayei Sarah, which details the burial of our matriarch, Sarah. The second is this week’s reading, Parshat Vayechi, which is largely about Jacob’s passing. Perhaps, this is… Continue Reading “Parsha to the Point” – Vayechi 5778
Parshat Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “And when the days of mourning for Jacob were over, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh saying, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, and he declared:… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Vayechi 5778
