acts of kindness

"The Tribe of Dan Traveled Last"

In parashat B'ha'alot'cha we learn that the tribe of Dan served as the "ma'ah'sayf," the rear guard, of all the twelve tribes when they traveled in the wilderness. According to the commentators, the Danites gathered up items lost by other tribes as well as stragglers who fell behind. Nevertheless, despite this promising beginning, the destiny of the tribe of Dan was to become a tribe of idolaters and sinners, who were eventually exiled together with the ten lost tribes. How did the tribe of Dan, with such a noble beginning, have such a sad and ignoble conclusion?

"When a Jew Comes to the City"

The arrival of a tribal family to an established culture, is always a challenging experience for the newcomers. When Jacob and his family arrive in Shechem, there are many adjustments that need to be made, both on the part of the new Jewish inhabitants and the native non-Jewish residents.