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Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Parsha Vayigash – Old Wine for Old Men The Messianic Age will not be a throwback to ancient times. On the contrary, we will experience the greatest advances and strides in science and medicine. But the spirit will be one that is timeless. At that time we will be reunited with our ancestors and we will all be delighted. Our forebears will Parsha Vayigash – No More Mediation The entire contentious relationship between Joseph and his brothers foretold deep divisions within the Jewish people. From the split of Israel into two kingdoms after King Solomon’s passing, to the many conflicts that have sadly punctuated Jewish life throughout history, division has become a staple Parsha Vayigash – The Joys of Monotheism When we realize that we have one G-d who is our Creator and Provider, we feel a kinship that makes us feel that we are part of one family. And even though family members often feud and can be just as fractious as total strangers, there is obviously a natural propensity to feel connected to a close r Parsha Vayigash – The Joseph and Judah Mindset Jacob knew the challenge that lie ahead for the Jewish people in the land of Egypt. To insure that the Jewish people would withstand the pressures of Egyptian life he needed to send someone who exhibited the power to confront royalty; the forces that were in control of the exile. It was Judah’s atti Parsha Vayigash – The Royal Yeshivah Torah is the “blueprint of creation” and has the power to affect the natural order of the world Any contradiction we find between Torah and our lives is not real. And any appearance of a conflict is a mirage. Torah is what dictates reality. Parsha Vayigash – The Shema Reunion We are presently living in an era that the prophets referred to as the "end of days." The process that began with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons, under the supervision of Joseph, is coming to an end. We are now on the threshold of the Messianic Age when not only Jacob, but all of his twel Parsha Vayigash – Traveling Tips When we are home or when we reach our destination we are not as vulnerable as we can be when we travel. Many of the problems the Jewish people encountered occurred especially when they were on the road. Amalek, Israel’s most implacable foe, the Torah stresses, attacked us “on the way.” We experience Parsha Vayigash – True Leadership 1 The Torah’s approach is that a human is essentially an intellectual being who has the capacity to control his/her emotions. When we exercise this human prerogative we are referred to as kings. The Hebrew word for king—Melech—is actually an acronym for: moach-brain lev-heart and kaved-liver. To the e Parsha Vayigash – True Leadership Ii Throughout Jewish history, true Jewish leaders, followed in Judah’s footsteps and were prepared to give everything they possessed, both physical and spiritual, in the interests of every Jew. Parsha Vayigash – What Makes Us Human? The mode of speech that distinguishes us from other creatures’ communication is the form of speech that has the capacity to reveal our inner being; our very soul. This mode of speech is what makes us eminently human. And the ultimate expression of the human capacity for genuine and unmitigated self- Parsha Vayigash – When to Weep Moshiach is not just about restoring the world to its original state; it goes beyond that. Moshiach will introduce a dimension of G-dliness that transcends the order of creation; even the state of affairs that existed in Gan-Eden-the Garden of Eden. Parsha Miketz – A Dream Come True The aspiration that Jews had — and continue to have — for thousands of years, to realize the final and complete Redemption at the hands of Moshiach, fits into the category of a genuine dream that will be realized. This dream possesses all the characteristics of a realistic dream: It is about usherin Parsha Miketz – Are You Prepared? We must constantly be thinking of the goal, of preparing ourselves for the future Redemption. On the other hand, we must not let our yearning for the future impede our ability to do our job while we are still here in the last moments of exile. Every day must be filled with the study of Torah and ful Parsha Miketz – Chanukah in Egypt? We must yearn for the future when G-d’s light, the infinite G-dly light created on the first day of creation that enables us to see from one end of the world to the other, will be revealed. This primordial light is recaptured with the Chanukah lights that we light at present, but which will be fully Parsha Miketz – Dream or Reality? The goal of Chanukah lights is to so inundate the “outside” with G-dly light that the perfunctory nature of our spiritual lives ceases to be so and we begin to thrive and savor every bit of our Mitzvos. We take nothing for granted and we do not get bored with the repetition of our mitzvah activities Parsha Miketz – Drive Carefully When Jacob heard the conviction and certainty in Yehudah’s voice, he detected the spirit of Moshiach and knew that Yehudah would succeed in the immediate task of bringing Benjamin back safely and, in so doing, ensure the final Redemption. Parsha Miketz – Free at Last and the Last Day of Chanukah Joseph’s name implies three dimensions of increasing:: The first is not staying in one place. The second is that one must create a process that has the potential to give birth to something new, ad infinitum. The third represents the capacity to transform an “outsider” into an “insider.” Parsha Miketz – Geulah Within Galus We have been told that we are on the very threshold of Geulah. And yet, we have seen examples of the process seemingly placed on hold. We should not be discouraged because it is only a test and we will imminently see how it will turn out to be a mirage and the Geulah will unfold in its full glory. Parsha Miketz – “I Have a Dream” Lest we think that the process of Redemption will negate everything we stood for in the days of exile, this week’s Torah portion informs us that the contrary is true. The dream/exile itself contains the solution. Within the chaotic state of affairs that characterize a dream and the period of exile, Parsha Miketz – Pharaoh’s Menorah The main objection of the Syrian Greeks to Judaism was not its culture and literature, but the underlying premise that it all stemmed from one G-d. And while they defiled other parts of the Temple, the greatest emphasis was placed on preventing the use of the Menorah, which symbolizes unity within t