FINDING YOUR VOICE Twice in the bible, we are told that the Children of Israel sang a song (to G-d.) The first time was after they had crossed the Red Sea on dry land: אָ֣ז יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ וּבְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ “Then Moses and the Children of Israel sang this song.” In this week’s parasha, forty years later, when they have re-experienced the miracle of the water of the well they sing, once again: אָ֚ז יָשִׁ֣יר יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־הַשִּׁירָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את “Then Israel sang this song.” What is the difference between these songs? On the first occasion, they sang the song together with...
TURNING JUDAISM OUTWARDS This coming Sunday, 3rd Tammuz, marks the yahrzeit of one the greatest Torah teachers and leaders of the twentieth century: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the 7th Lubavitche Rebbe, who died in 1994. He taught a Judaism that saw the good in every human being and inspired his followers to reach out to all parts of the world. Unsurprisingly, he shows us a positive angle on Korach, one of the villains of the bible, the antihero of this week’s parasha. 20 years before he died, the Rebbe gave a talk to a group of teenage girls. He reflected...
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 see in the land and bring back a negative report. But Moses knows that amongst the spies there are two men he can rely on: Joshua and Calev. Joshua is already known as the main disciple of Moses. He was the one asked to lead...
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...
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...
