Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “This is my God ve-anveihu, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (Exodus 15:2) What is the best way to give thanks to God? As the walls of the sea come crashing down on the elite Egyptian chariots, and the Israelites realize …
Parshat Beshalach: Holding on to Faith and Unity in Times of Crisis Rabbi Noam and Daphna Hertig are Straus-Amiel shlichim in Zurich, Switzerland, where Rabbi Noam is the head rabbi of Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zürich (ICZ). In this week’s Parashah, the Exodus from Egypt reaches its climax with the splitting of the Sea of Reeds. We …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon, and all the …
Parshat Bo: The Timeless Story of Yetziat Mizrayim Rabbi Marcus and Lydia Rosenberg are Straus-Amiel shlichim in Melbourne, Australia. Rabbi Marcus is a Rabbi at Hamayan Minyan and Jewish Studies Teacher at Leibler Yavneh College, and Lydia is Rebbetzin of Hamayan and teacher and coordinator of the UJEB Bat Mitzvah program. In Parshat Bo, Am …
Parshat Vaera: Unity and Redemption Rebbetzin Sarah and Rabbi Leron Bernstein were shlichim of Straus-Amiel in Johannesburg, South Africa, where Rabbi Leron was the Managing Director of Yeshiva College The ‘Four Expressions of Redemption’ found in Parshat Vaera are well-known – setting the tone for our annual Pesach Seder and providing a powerful progression in our …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vaera (Exodus 6:2- 9:35) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And I will bring you into the land that I promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you as a morasha [heritage]: I am the LORD.“ (Exodus 6:8). It is only natural for parents to desire …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Shemot (Exodus 1:1 -6:1) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). Why is Joseph, the towering personality of the last four portions of the Book of Genesis, not considered the fourth patriarch of Israel? After all, he receives a …
Parshat Shemot: Moshe’s Soul Work Rabbi Zecharia and Nava Deutsch are Straus-Amiel emissaries serving as Campus Chaplains at Leeds University, England In our parsha we are introduced to Moshe, who will be the leading figure from this point onwards, until Vezot HaBracha, the very last portion of the Torah. Throughout the four Books of the …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his [Joseph’s] neck” (Genesis 45:14). The final verse of the last portion of Vayigash summarizes the astonishing achievement of the Israelites in Egypt: ‘And Israel dwelt in the …
Parshat Vayechi: Yaakov’s Blessing to Shimon and Levi Rabbi David Basok is a Straus-Amiel emissary who heads Jewish Education in the Jewish community of Tallinn, Estonia, and was previously the Rabbi of Wroclaw, Poland. In every community or group, there often exists some form of disparity or division of sorts between the leadership and the …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayigash (Genesis 44:18 – 47:27) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Joseph fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his [Joseph’s] neck” (Genesis 45:14). This poignant moment when these two brothers are reunited after a separation of twenty-two years is one of the most tender …
Parshat Vayigash: What Makes a Leader? Rabbi Netanel Aryeh Leib and Rabbanit Avital Kaszowitz are Straus-Amiel shlichim serving as the Chief Rabbinical couple of Kenya and the Jewish communities of East Africa In the previous portions we came across leader figures: Reuven, Yehuda and Yosef. All three display leadership qualities and have characteristics of firstborns. However, …
