Beha’alotecha

Beha’alotecha

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, now was the time for Moses to enter to hear the voice of G-d. In the final verse of the sidra, this is indeed what happens. How did Moses hear that voice? Where did the voice come from? Did Moses hear it from heaven? Did...

Naso

Naso

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, now was the time for Moses to enter to hear the voice of G-d. In the final verse of the sidra, this is indeed what happens. How did Moses hear that voice? Where did the voice come from? Did Moses hear it from heaven? Did...

Bamidbar

Bamidbar

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 bless them and protect them and send a refua shlema speedily. When we learn of casualties, it strikes us with deep shock. A precious soul has been struck down; A precious soul has been injured. Every person is special. Every person is unique. The particular...

Behar Bechukotai

Behar Bechukotai

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 Birnbaum asked Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, one of the twentieth century’s most influential Jewish folk singers, to compose a song that would give hope and strength to the Russian Jews and be an inspiration to those in the West seeking to help them. In response, Rabbi...

Emor

Emor

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? What are additional responsibilities upon the Cohen Gadol, the High Priest? What could disqualify him from serving as a Priest? Holiness of the person is explored in this section. Much of the central section of the parasha will be familiar to some as the Torah...