Judaism

Why Israel Lost Faith at the Red Sea

A small verse, describing the Israelites’ panic at seeing the approaching Egyptian troops, reveals many significant lessons that help explain why Israel lost faith at the Red Sea.

"Interfacing with the Non-Jewish World"

Moses boldly tells Pharaoh that not only will the Israelites not leave their flocks behind in Egypt when they depart, but that Pharaoh himself will donate flocks that will be used by the Israelites in their worship in the wilderness. This declaration raises many thorny issues about the use of non-Jewish resources in Jewish life.

"The ‘Outstretched Arm’ and the ‘Mighty Hand’"

Why does the Al-mighty rescue Israel with both an “outstretched arm” and a “mighty hand”?

The Role of Exile in Jewish History

What is the role that Galut--exile--plays in the history of the Jewish people?

“The Patriarch Jacob Did Not Die!”

The word “va’yah’maht”--and he died--is not mentioned regarding Jacob’s passing, whereas at the passing of both Abraham and Isaac, the Hebrew word for death is mentioned. Consequently, our rabbis, of blessed memory, maintain that this implies that our father Jacob did not die. Just as Jacob’s descendants live on, so does Jacob.