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...
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...
THE RIGHT PLACE FOR A LECHAYIM! Nadav and Avihu, the two older sons of Aaron, tragically lose their lives in this week’s parasha. Why? They are accused of bringing Esh Zara or “strange fire” into the dedication service of the Tabernacle. What is this “strange fire?” One explanation is that it refers to the fire that was burning within them as a result of their drinking wine first. They entered the Sanctuary not completely sober. The succeeding verses make this absolutely clear: “And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, ‘Do not drink wine that will lead to intoxication, neither you...
WHY IS TODAY CALLED SHABBAT HAGADOL – ‘THE GREAT SHABBAT?’ The first reference to this name is found in Siddur Rashi (p.171.) The calculation is made that the Exodus took place on a Thursday. Hence, the 10th Nisan that year would have been a Shabbat. This was the time that the Israelites were commanded to take a lamb, the deity of the Egyptians, keep it in their homes for four days and slaughter it. Siddur Rashi cites Midrashim that the Egyptians were seething with rage at the action of the Israelites. However, they became smitten with sickness and afflictions and...
PRECIOUS METALS Last Friday night, at the end of the shul service, we had a magical moment. Two boys, Benjy and Natie Bulkin, came up to sing Yigdal. As their voices rang out in the shul, all of us there were filled with emotion. To hear children’s voices in shul again! Wow! We’re back where we belong! As we re-establish our communities again after lockdown, the voices of children are going to play a fundamental part in rebuilding Jewish life. It is so appropriate that in recent weeks we have been reading in shul the parashot that deal with the...
