Some of you would have heard the blessing of HaGomel, perhaps after surgery, a long flight, or a frightening experience. It is a blessing of thanks, recited publicly, acknowledging that we have safely emerged from danger. Its roots lie in this week’s parashah, and its message resonates powerfully at our Seder table. In the Torah we read (Vayikra 7:12): “If one brings it as a thanksgiving offering.” The offering included three types of Matzot, unleavened bread. Rashi explains that this refers to four categories of people who offer thanks for a miracle that happened to them: 1. those who travel...
When a Soul Makes a Mistake In his bestselling book Atomic Habits, James Clear writes: “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” What does that mean? It means that our actions do not only affect the world around us — they shape the person we are becoming inside, our very soul. Each decision, even small ones, leaves an imprint on our character and our inner life. This idea resonates with a verse in this week’s parashah, Vayikra. When the Torah introduces the laws of the offering brought for an unintentional transgression,...
Who owns your time? At first the answer seems obvious: I do. Yet in a world of constant notifications, endless responsibilities, and 24/7 connectivity, many of us feel that our time is rarely our own. Between emails, messages, and the constant pull of our phones, it can sometimes feel as though everyone owns a piece of our time except us. We pick up our phone for a moment and suddenly ten minutes have disappeared. By the end of the day we may find ourselves wondering: what happened to the time? We often say, “time ran away from me.” But time...
Recognising the Gifts We Carry “If you need something done, give it to a busy person.” This idea is captured in a striking verse in this week’s Torah portion: “And into the heart of every wise-hearted person I have placed wisdom.” (Exodus 31:6) The Talmud explains why the “wise-hearted” are given wisdom: “The Holy One, blessed be He, gives wisdom only to one who already has wisdom.” (Berachot 55a) At first glance, this is puzzling. If a person already has wisdom, why is more needed? What does it mean that G-d grants wisdom only to those who already possess it?...
REMEMBERING ST. JOHN’S WOOD Many nations have attacked the Jewish people throughout history, but only one is commanded to be remembered as a permanent archetype of evil. The special Maftir for this Shabbat recalls Amalek – not merely as another historical enemy, but as a symbol of something far deeper. His attack was not only physical; it was ideological. It challenged our understanding of history, destiny, and Divine purpose. That is why the command to remember him is eternal, and why this Shabbat refreshes that memory once again. Amalek’s attack is described using the Hebrew word karcha, which normally means...
WHO BEARS THE WITNESS? Earlier this month, Harry Olmer died at the age of 98. He was a survivor of the unimaginable brutality of the Nazi death camps, and dedicated decades of his life to Holocaust education. With his passing, we have lost another of the few remaining eyewitnesses to the evil that was perpetrated. Despite the vast archive of documents, photographs and film, there is nothing as immediate – and nothing as morally compelling – as hearing first-hand testimony from someone who was there. That truth goes to the heart of how Judaism understands memory. And it goes to...
MOSES, THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTALIST? The drama begins. Pharaoh and the Egyptians are smitten by plagues: blood, frogs, lice, pestilence, boils, and the rest. But Pharaoh’s heart is “hard” or stubborn, and he doesn’t let the Israelites go. Moses famously did not initiate the first three plagues – the blood, the frogs, and the lice. Instead, it was Aaron who held out the staff. This shift in leadership for the Nile and the ground is no mere detail; it reveals a profound lesson in character. The explanation given by Rashi is striking. The river had protected Moses when he was an...
