FATHER OF MERCY This Shabbat we will be reciting an extra prayer before Ashrei called Av Harachamim “Father of Mercy.” Its origins lie in the wake of the First Crusade, in 1096. Many Jewish communities in Germany were decimated as mobs found an outlet for their religious zeal in killing Jews before making their way to the Holy Land to wrest it from the Muslims. Thousands of men, women and children lost their lives in the communities of the Rhineland. Mainz, Worms, Speyer were ravaged over the course of a few weeks as the Crusaders made their way down Europe....

THE PROMISE OF A LEADER The philosopher Nietsche had a sharp eye for encapsulating a moral truth: “I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you.” Be careful with what you say. Don’t say anything you won’t keep. And keep anything you say. In his “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey writes: “Integrity includes, but goes beyond honesty. Honesty is … conforming our words to reality. Integrity is conforming reality to our words—in other words, keeping promises and fulfilling expectations. This requires an integrated character, a oneness, primarily...

JOSEPH’S GIFT Shabbat in the Temple was characterized by an extra offering. It is described in this week’s parasha and is known as the Musaf offering. Today, when prayers have replaced the sacrifices, we have a Musaf or additional service on Shabbat. The Talmud associates the three daily services, Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv, with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of the Patriarchs made a particular point of praying at these times of day. The Zohar makes a connection between the Musaf service and the biblical Joseph. Both words are based on the same root Lehosif, meaning ‘to add.’...

BUYING POWER  Tucked into the first of this week’s two parashiot, is a fascinating insight into Jewish Business Ethics.  The Israelites were now in their fortieth year in the desert. They were approaching the land of Canaan from the south. Their route northward entailed passing through part of the territory of Edom. In accordance with protocol, they asked the local monarch, the king of Edom, for permission to traverse his country.   “Let us pass through your land. We won’t go into any field or vineyard. We won’t drink the water of a well. We will travel on the main highway,...

CONFLICT RESOLUTION If there is one Shabbat of the year when the message of the parasha is bound to be topical it has to be this week, Parashat Korach. Rebellion. Insurrection. Machloket. Hardly a week goes by without someone, some place, somewhere in the world having a dispute. However, as well as describing the full blown conflict of Korach and his followers, the parasha also teaches us an important lesson in Conflict Resolution. There is a decisive demonstration of G-d’s support for Moses and the vindication of his authority. Korach and his men are taught a dramatic lesson. The ground...