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...
ACTS OF COURAGE Ahmed al-Ahmed, the Muslim hero of Bondi Beach whose quick and courageous action helped prevent a far greater tragedy, continues his recovery. Last Sunday, he was given a hero’s welcome at the Ashes Test – though it did little to improve England’s fortunes – and on Tuesday he visited the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York to offer prayers for humanity. It was a gesture that resonated deeply with many Jews, reminding us of the profound bonds of shared sanctity. His heroism belongs to a long tradition of individuals from the wider world who had...
FAMILY REUNION Much of the country has been gearing up for annual festive season celebrations. Media outlets discuss menus and the tricky dynamics of family members and friends who have not been together for some time. Family dynamics of a different kind emerge in this week’s parasha. When Joseph has revealed his identity to his brothers, he sends them back to the land of Israel with a message that Jacob should relocate to Egypt. In order to facilitate the long journey for his father, Joseph sends wagons to Jacob. The Bible says that when the brothers returned to Jacob: “They...
Chanukah After Bondi Beach At a time when we are still stunned by the terrible events at Bondi Beach, we need to remind ourselves, more than ever, of the core message of Chanukah. Chanukah is not simply a time for parties, gifting presents, or eating doughnuts. It is not a Jewish substitute for the immeasurably more visible Christmas. Chanukah expresses something far more challenging. It commemorates a victory in war, but equally, a victory over assimilation. Chanukah faces outward, against the Syrian Greeks who sought to eradicate Judaism itself. But Chanukah also faces inward, against those Jews of the time...
HEALING, HUMILITY, AND THE LIMITS OF HUMAN POWER This week the world watched an extraordinary story unfold. Alyssa, a young teenager with an aggressive and previously incurable form of blood cancer, has entered full remission thanks to a pioneering form of gene therapy. Doctors described her recovery as “remarkable,” even “miraculous.” Alyssa’s treatment began in 2022 at Great Ormond Street. Now, three years on, her cancer is undetectable. We celebrate this moment of medical brilliance and human hope. Yet moments like this also raise profound ethical questions. The Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel, in The Case Against Perfection, warns that the...
