BRINGING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS In this week’s parasha we read of the mission to spy out the land of Israel. From the outset, Moses is concerned. G-d had promised that He would take His people to a ‘land flowing with milk and honey,’but the spies might be overwhelmed at the challenges they would...
CAN OUR CHILDREN HEAR THIS? This week’s sidra, parashat Naso, is the longest in the book. Why? Because for twelve days, the Princes of the tribes brought their gifts to dedicate the Tabernacle. Each gift was exactly the same but the Torah spells out each one, in full detail, twelve times. With the Tabernacle dedicated,...
CAN OUR CHILDREN HEAR THIS? This week’s sidra, parashat Naso, is the longest in the book. Why? Because for twelve days, the Princes of the tribes brought their gifts to dedicate the Tabernacle. Each gift was exactly the same but the Torah spells out each one, in full detail, twelve times. With the Tabernacle dedicated,...
STARS, SOIL AND SAND Shalom friends At the time I am writing this message, Israel is being bombarded with rockets. Our hearts go out to the families who have been bereaved; to the many who have been wounded and lost their homes; and the even more who are being traumatised by the events. May G-d...
AM YISRAEL CHAI In the 1960s, Jews in the Western world had become aware of the struggle faced by Jewish people in the Soviet Union living under communist oppression. The campaign for Soviet Jewry was initially spearheaded by students and was then taken up by the mainstream community. In April 1965, the student leader, Jacob...
CREATING HOLINESS This week’s parasha deals with the three different types of holiness we find in Judaism: holiness of the person, holiness in time, and holiness in space. The first two portions of the sidra outline the special responsibilities on the Cohen. Whom may he marry? Under what circumstances may he go to the cemetery?...
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR A LECHAYIM! Nadav and Avihu, the two older sons of Aaron, tragically lose their lives in this week’s parasha. Why? They are accused of bringing Esh Zara or “strange fire” into the dedication service of the Tabernacle. What is this “strange fire?” One explanation is that it refers to the fire...
WHY IS TODAY CALLED SHABBAT HAGADOL – ‘THE GREAT SHABBAT?’ The first reference to this name is found in Siddur Rashi (p.171.) The calculation is made that the Exodus took place on a Thursday. Hence, the 10th Nisan that year would have been a Shabbat. This was the time that the Israelites were commanded to...
PRECIOUS METALS Last Friday night, at the end of the shul service, we had a magical moment. Two boys, Benjy and Natie Bulkin, came up to sing Yigdal. As their voices rang out in the shul, all of us there were filled with emotion. To hear children’s voices in shul again! Wow! We’re back where...
HEAVY LIFTING When Rachie and I were first married, we lived in Jerusalem while I was studying at the Mir Yeshiva. I remember one occasion when I arrived at an apartment building to visit a friend. At the same time, a van arrived and the driver proceeded to unload a fridge, which was to be...
