28 Elul 5777 – September 19, 2017 Rosh Hashana 5778 Torah Portion: Ha’azinu – Shabbos Shuva I would venture to say that a standard Rosh Hashana checklist would look like this: Synagogue tickets purchased. Clothing cleaned. Challos with raisins, honey, sweet apple. Delicious meals prepared – this year for three days! We are expected …
Category: 5777
Sep 15
Rising Above
(Torah Portion Shemos) Rising Above! One who studies Torah will inevitably come across ideas that will bring him to appreciate and understand nuances that will clarify and enrich his life both in thought and in practice. Something struck me for the first time as I began the book of Exodus, which deals with the enslavement …
Sep 15
Global Warmth
(Torah Portion Va’eirah) Global Warmth! The Torah relates that the first three plagues, blood, frogs and lice were brought about by Aaron striking with his staff. The question raised is why weren’t these plagues brought about through Moshe, as he was the one who generated the rest of the plagues? We know that Moshe was …
Sep 15
A Dove
(Torah Portion Bo) A Dove! The eighth plague G-d brought upon the Egyptians, was a swarm of locusts so dense and thick that it darkened the Egyptian sky. The locusts then descended and for seven days covered the entire land of Egypt eating and consuming all the vegetation of Egypt. The Torah when describing that …
Sep 15
Sea Saw
(Torah Portion Beshalach) Sea Saw! The Torah in this week’s Parsha describes the awesome phenomenon where the Red Sea split, clearing a dry and beautiful path for the Jewish nation to cross. At the same time the Egyptians who were pursuing them drowned in the raging waters. In the first Psalms in the Hallel prayer …
Sep 15
Read It
(Torah Portion Beraishis ) Read It! I had a friend who was much older I was. He was very sharp, determined and a bit stubborn. From time to time we would discuss…well…much more like argue over Torah concepts, such as, belief in G-d, and the authenticity of our G-d given Torah. Our discussions would inevitably …
Sep 15
Five Dollar Tip
(Torah Portion Lech Lecha) Five Dollar Tip! Often after the holidays, Rabbi Shlomo Halbershtam o.b.m., the beloved Bobover Rebbe, needed to rest from his exhaustive activities and would travel to Palm Springs, California where one of his followers had a beautiful home in a gated community. During the week he was driven by his host …
Sep 15
Tenacity
(Torah Portion Vayaira) Tenacity! The greatest challenge G-d presented to our forefather Avraham was the instruction to offer his son Yitzchok as a sacrifice. We read this episode in this week’s Parsha as well as on Rosh Hashana, which is the anniversary of the event. Try to imagine being in Avraham’s position. Avraham had promoted …
Sep 15
Chayai Sarah She Took Notice
(Torah Portion Chayai Sarah) She Took Notice! The Torah relates that Avraham instructed his faithful servant Eliezer to travel from the land of Israel to his birthplace, Aram Naharyim, to find a suitable wife for his son Yitzchok. Avraham sent Eliezer with ten camels laden with gifts. Our Sages tell us that Avraham’s camels stood …
Sep 15
Truth Be Told
(Torah Portion Toldos) Truth Be Told! The Torah relates that when our matriarch Rivka was expecting, she became bewildered because when she passed the house of Torah study headed by the Sage Aiver she felt her baby kicking as if it wanted to get out and when she passed a place of idol worship she …
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