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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Miketz – Chanukah (Genesis 41:1-44:17) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “The Lord shall broaden and beautify Yefet, and he (or perhaps ”He”) shall dwell in the Tents of Shem” (Genesis 9:27). The Chanukah struggle was between two powerful ideologies, Judaism vs. Hellenism, Jerusalem vs. Athens, a band of Maccabee traditionalist …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1 – 40:23) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And there passed by Midianite merchants, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver, and they brought Joseph down to Egypt” (Genesis 37:28). Who bears the …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4 – 36:43) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him, and they wept.” (Genesis 33:4) Years ago, a college classmate provocatively announced that he planned to name his first son “after the most maligned …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayetze (Genesis 28:10-32:3) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and clothing to wear, so that I shall come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Toldot (Genesis 25:19 – 28:9) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Rebecca spoke to her son Jacob, saying… And now, my son, obey my voice according to which I command you…” (Genesis 27:5,7) One of the many glories of the Bible is that it recognizes the complex personality especially of …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1- 25:18) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: ‘Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh… You shall go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife …
