Weekly Message

"The Anonymous Holiday"

Despite the tradition that the Torah was given on the holiday of Shavuot, nowhere in the Torah is there any mention that the Torah was given on that day. Why then are the Jewish people so keen on observing this day as the holiday of giving the Torah?

"The Risks of Being a Public Figure"

The Torah announces: "These are the offspring of Aaron and Moses," but only lists the offspring of Aaron. From this textual nuance we learn that those people who are not blessed with biological children can still be spiritual parents, like Moses was to Aaron's children. It also underscores the great challenge facing public figures to balance their own lives with the needs of the community.

"The Big 'If': Reflection of Free Choice"

The little word "im"--"if," that begins the verse, "If you follow my decrees" is a critical word for all of humankind. It implies that all human beings have a very special gift from G-d-- freedom to choose. Our Torah does not speak of predestination, it speaks of choice. Even the Hebrew word "Emunah," faith, begins in Hebrew with the same letters as im, implying choice.

"Wronging One Another The Torah's Unique View Point"

Jewish law maintains that especially vulnerable people must be protected from abuse. Therefore, one is forbidden to say even truthful things that are hurtful to others. The Torah provides many remarkable insights and directives that are intended to help people and society become more sensitive to one another.

"Being Judged by a Different Yardstick"

While it's difficult for the Jewish people to endure the indignities that have been visited upon us by the nations of the world, we may still hold our heads up high. We may be proud of the fact that the nations of the world judge us by a different yardstick, expecting more of the Jewish people. Woe to the day when the world thinks that Jews should follow the moral principles of the rest of the world. We must be held to a higher standard, otherwise, we lose our uniqueness.

"The Revolutionary Idea of Holiness"

In parashat Kedoshim we learn much about the magical and revolutionary idea that the Torah introduced into civilization-- the concept of "holiness." As the Torah says, "You shall be holy for I the L-rd your G-d am holy." Unless one subscribes to the belief that every human is holy and a reflection of the Divine, there is really no limit to the extent of depravity and immorality to which humans may sink.

"The Forbidden Relationships Work Both Ways"

Parashat Acharei Mot lists, in a very forceful manner, the rules and regulations regarding immoral and forbidden sexual relationships. It is this text that is read publicly at the afternoon Yom Kippur service in order to remind the Jewish people of proper moral conduct. However, it is also perhaps a reminder to G-d that just as He expects His people to be loyal to Him, so must He be loyal to His people and not exchange us for any other people.

"The Passover Seder--Focus on the Children"

Even before the enslavement of the Jews began, Pharaoh instructed the midwives to kill all newborn Jewish babies. The Midrash goes further, asserting that Pharaoh's disproportionate hatred of Jewish children led him to try to remedy his leprosy affliction by bathing in the blood of Jewish children. On Passover night, every Jew is a child, and every Jew becomes a parent, to underscore the importance of nurturing the next generation.

"The Ultimate Value and Sanctity of Human Life in Judaism"

Not only a menstruant woman, but also a man who has had emissions was rendered ritually impure in ancient times. These complex laws of emissions and purification that seem so crude at first blush are truly enlightened. They come to teach the sanctity of human life and its ultimate value in Judaism.

"Death and Life are In the 'Hands' of the Tongue!"

We tend to dismiss the power of the tongue, and yet it has the ability to give life and to take life.

"Substance Abuse in Judaism"

The severe punishment meted out to the sons of Aaron leaves us with a powerful reason to carefully study the Jewish attitude towards intoxicants and drugs. Alcoholism and drug abuse is serious business, not something that can be ignored. Wine is a divine gift, and plays a key role in Judaism. Yet, we need to make certain that it is treated as a special gift and imbibed with respect.

"Remembering Amalek: A Contemporary View"

Jewish tradition looks upon those who seek to destroy the Jewish people as the heirs of the ancient Amalekites, the fierce nation that was the first to attack the people of Israel, especially the elderly, weak and the young after the exodus from Egypt. While remembering Amalek is important, rebuilding and guaranteeing the Jewish future is far more important.

"Thanking G-d for the Good"

For mortals, it's not easy to maintain a sense of gratitude for the constant miracles that are part of our everyday existence. The Sh'lamim, the Peace Offering, enables us to express our gratitude to G-d at all times, and not just to cry out and denounce G-d when things are wrong or uncomfortable. It's easy to complain about the bad; it's far more difficult to say "Thank You" for the good.

"Honesty and Integrity in Public Life"

In parashat Pekudai, the Torah portion provides an exact accounting of the amount of gold, silver, and copper that was contributed to the construction of the Tabernacle. Honesty and integrity play a major role in the Jewish religion. Leaders especially, who are meant to serve as role models for the rest of the community, are expected to live up to the highest standards.

"Jewish Women and Jewish Destiny"

We are told in parashat Vayakhel that the Jewish women responded immediately to the appeals that were made by Moses for gold for building the Tabernacle, removing their precious jewelry and rushing them to the Tabernacle. This was only one of the many heroic actions that the women of Israel performed. The key role that the women of Israel played in the redemption of the people of Israel is confirmed by the remarkable rabbinic statement asserting that only in the merit of the righteous women, were our ancestors redeemed from Egypt. It is quite likely that this is true not only of the generation of Egypt, but in all subsequent generations as well.

"The 'Vengeful' G-d"

The last of the so-called 13 attributes of G-d's mercy is that G-d does not entirely cleanse sinners and that He may be vengeful. If we are expected to imitate G-d, then perhaps we should be vengeful as well?

"Clothes: A Reflection of the Divine Image"

Clothes play an important role in Judaism and in Jewish tradition. After all, the Al-mighty was the first designer of clothes for Adam and Eve. The clothes that the priests wore not only invested them with sanctity, but also represented the values that the priests were trying to communicate to the people.

"The Mishkan: Underscoring the Centrality of the Home in Jewish Life"

The Mishkan--the Tabernacle--is very much like a home, and has all the furnishings that are found in a home. The fact that our synagogue is called a Beit Kinesset, a house of coming together, underscores the importance of the home. Unless our homes serve as dwelling places for G-d, there will be little chance that our religion will be effectively communicated in our synagogues or in our temples.

"From Seemingly Obscure Laws, the Torah Teaches the Ultimate Value of the Sanctity of Human Life"

Why should an ox that gored and killed a person be put to death? 3,300 years ago the Torah taught the world about the ultimate value of human life. These values are reflected in this statute as well.

"An Encounter with Jethro and the Non-Jewish World"

3,300 years ago, when xenophobia reigned supreme throughout the ancient world, the Torah admonished Jews not to reject sage advice simply because it emanates from a non-Jewish source. In fact, Jews are encouraged to look for good and healthy ideas anywhere in the world, Jewish and secular, and embrace those ideas with open arms.

"The Shira: Source of all Song"

According to Jewish tradition, all song emanates from the purity and devotion of the song that the people of Israel sang over three thousand years ago at the crossing of the Red Sea.

"Rational Love and Emotional Love: A Lesson From Tefillin"

From the ritual of tefillin we learn that there is both "rational love" and "emotional love," a love of the mind and a love of the heart. While both these loves are important, in Judaism emotional love trumps rational love.

"G-d Hardens Pharaoh's Heart: Reconciling Omniscience and Free Will"

Our commentators struggle over G-d's statement to Moses: "And I will harden Pharaoh's heart." Does this imply that G-d has taken away Pharaoh's free will? Among the host of responses offered by the commentators is that Pharaoh hardened his own heart during the first 5 plagues, and was punished by G-d hardening Pharaoh's heart during the last 5 plagues. Many of the responses given by the commentators to this issue are quite insightful and resourceful. They must be studied carefully in order to appreciate them fully.

"Commitment to Judaism: A lesson from Moshe"

"Give me four years to teach the children, and the seed I will have sown will never be uprooted." Thus spoke the communist leader, V.I. Lenin. Could it be that Moses's formative rearing at the hands of his mother Yocheved and sister Miriam made the difference? It is highly probable that his early childhood experience, supplemented by his stepmother Bitya's effective rearing, leads to Moses's exalted sense of Jewish identity and his emergence as a great Jewish leader.

"How Important is Timing?"

When blessing his children, Jacob says of Reuben that he has all the natural advantages of the firstborn child in rank and in power. Jacob then retreats suddenly, declaring that Reuben is impetuous like water and therefore cannot be the foremost. As we study the actions, deeds and words of Reuben we find a good person--good-hearted and well-intentioned. Reuben is always ready to do the right thing. Unfortunately, his timing is off, intending to do the right thing, but, unfortunately, at the wrong time. As important as actions and words are, timing is just as critical.

"The Reunion of Jacob & Joseph: An Immortal Lesson About Love"

After 22 years of mourning for his lost son, the rabbis say that when Jacob and Joseph are reunited, Jacob could not kiss his son because he was reciting the Shema prayer. What was the reason for Jacob's odd behavior? Couldn't he have prayed before or after the reunion with his son?

"Who was Osenath the Wife of Joseph?"

The Midrash relates that Dina, who was raped by Sh'chem, gave birth to a child, Osenath. This child was driven from Jacob's home and is eventually adopted by Potiphar and his wife. Despite the terrible tragedy, Dina's daughter marries Joseph and becomes the progenitor of two tribes of Israel--Ephraim and Menashe. It is Osenath, the secret heroine, who raises these two children, and keeps them from assimilating in Egypt.

"The Massacre of Shechem: Can it be justified?"

The rabbis have a hard time with the rape of Dinah and the massacre of the men of Shechem. They try valiantly to explain why Dinah was fated to suffer so horribly. They also debate whether the actions of Simeon and Levi can in any way be justified.

"Who is the Real Enemy?"

Despite his rather minor textual role, Jewish history portrays Laban as a significant and evil character. He plays a major role in the Passover Hagaddah, referred to in that context as "the Aramanean who sought to destroy our father." The literature is replete with all sorts of devious acts and trickery that Laban perpetrated on the Jewish people to undermine them. Laban is even considered more dangerous than Pharaoh. Pharaoh is an outright and public enemy. Laban, on the other hand, embraces us in a false embrace and his kiss is the kiss of death. He feigns love. That is why he is more dangerous than Pharaoh, since it is so difficult to recognize his subtle desire to destroy us.

"A Lesson from Jacob and Esau: Understanding and Accepting Differences"

There are differences in children, and differences in parents' attitudes towards children. Some of the commentators note that the difficulties between Jacob and Esau may be due to the fact that not enough attention was paid to the innate differences in the childrens' natures, and that they were both given the same cookie-cutter educational experiences. There is a great price to pay for not recognizing each child's individual needs.