RIGHTEOUS GENTILES Persecution of the Jews begins, in history, in this week parasha. Pharaoh orders Hebrew baby boys to be killed at birth. At the same time, the Torah informs us of gentiles who refused to obey such orders. Pharaoh instructs women who are called HaMeyaldot Ha’Ivriyot – the Hebrew Midwives to carry out his...
THE RIGHT BLESSING Simchat Torah night in Czarist Russia was an occasion not only of great joy but also great anticipation. The custom in some communities was to auction aliyot for sections in the Torah that were going to be read in the course of the coming year. It was the time of the Czarist...
PUBLIC HERO VERSUS PRIVATE HERO The interaction between Judah and Joseph at the beginning of the parasha, sets the scene for two prototypes of greatness: the Judah-type and the Joseph-type. The public tzaddik and the private tzaddik. When, as a result of Judah’s impassion pleas, Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers, he does so...
PHARAOH IN DENIAL One of the major concerns posed by global warming is rising sea and river levels. Only this week, flood provision in the Norfolk Broads was declared seriously inadequate and major problems will occur unless preventive measures are taken. By contrast, the economy of ancient Egypt was governed by the annual overflowing of...
ISRAEL’S EMBASSIES This week’s portion includes the passage well-known to us from the siddur: the second paragraph of the Shema. The conclusion of this passage seems difficult to accept at face value: “so that your days will be lengthened on the land which the L-d promised to your ancestors, to give to them.” The Torah...
Tribute delivered by Martin Levison’s daughter Stephanie Brada at his funeral 3.7.20 Last night so many people gathered in your honour Martin and we talked about you, but now you are with us for the last time and it’s my chance to speak directly to you. We saw last night how people loved you and...
