A Mitzvah Comes Full Circle (20:12)
The Ten Commandments, as they appear on the Tablets, are divided into two categories. The first five are regarded as “Mitzvos Bain Odom L’makom - Laws between Man and G-d,” while the second five are, “Mitzvos Bain Odom L’chavairo - Laws Between Man and his Fellow Man.”
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch makes an amazing observation. Mitzvos relating to G-d begin with commandments that are intellectual concepts, more theory than practice. But although they begin with ‘cerebral’ ideals such as “I am the L-rd your G-d,”they progress to orders that involve concrete actions, such as, “Honor your Parents.” The reason for this chronology is that if Mitzvos between Man and G-d do not ultimately climax in specific actions, then we have…
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The No Spectacle Sinai (20:1)
Revelation was the most profound event in our nation’s history, the singular moment when G-d spoke ‘face-to-face’ to His nation. Was this the greatest miracle of all time? How does it compare, for example, with the Splitting of the Sea?
Six weeks earlier, at the parting of the waters, the Jews had been treated to an unparalleled display of G-d’s majestic might. Their spectacular rescue from the clutches of Pharaoh was, even as miracles go, quite amazing. Indeed, Yisro at the beginning of this week’s reading proclaims, “Now I know that G-d is greater than all others!” Why? Because His unique intervention at the Sea revealed G-d’s extraordinary judiciousness: the very same mechanism Pharaoh used to destroy the Jews, was…
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Come to Me…first (18:15-16)
How often have you heard the sentiment, “I may not be religious, but I am a good, decent person.” Somehow over the course of time, a notion has taken root in many minds that Divine dogma only addresses the ancient rituals practiced in the halls of study and prayer. However for the vast multitude of activities that occur in the street or in the boardroom - the prosaic, everyday labors, we call life - those are not to be guided by Heavenly wisdom but by the hustlers of contemporary fashion and finance.
It is truly sad, that so many people feel this way. Worse, this mindset is hardly new. Indeed, the very first generation of Jews who received the Torah…
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Lessons in Leadership (18:14)
It wasn’t his connections in high places, his former status as advisor to the Pharaoh, his previous job as High Priest of Midian or his relationship to Moshe Rabbeinu that catapulted him to immortal fame by having an entire Torah portion named Yisro - it was his advice.
At first glance this is quite perplexing. Wasn’t Yisro only protecting his son-in-law Moshe from a taxing and impossible job?
You look puzzled, as if you are not following my train of thought. Maybe I should start at the beginning. Yisro, the father-in-law of Moses saw that the entire judicial system had fallen on Moshe’s shoulders. As the only judge adjudicating cases, the load was piling up with the people standing around…
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Faith: the Never Ending Story (18:1)
How many times have you said, “If G-d would only show me a miracle, I would surely believe.” Although I, too, would love to see the Hand of G-d showing us His cards, I maintain that most of us would be impressed, even overwhelmed. But believe? That, my friends, results from internal, mental, and spiritual growth, not external manipulation.
This can be clearly seen from this week’s Torah portion, Yisro. Jethro, the priest of Midian, arrives at the camp of the Israelites after hearing about the miraculous dividing of the Red Sea and the battle with the tribe, Amalek. Why did the combination of these two specific events stimulate Jethro to join the Jews? While it is true that the…
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Beshallach Squared
Beshalach Squared
Kabbalah of Transformation
Kabbalah of Transformation
Do We Believe in Evil
Do We Believe in Evil
Separation of Church and State
A burning bush, a mission accepted and soon Moses and Aaron found themselves demanding of Pharaoh freedom for all Jews. The Torah relates the Egyptian monarch’s exact reply, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their work? Go about your own business.”
Our Sages explain that Moses and Aaron, being Levites, were exempt from the bitter decree of slavery. Pharaoh therefore asked them, “Why do you two involve yourselves in affairs that do not concern you? Let the other Jews continue their task and you do yours.”
Why did the Egyptians permit an entire tribe to be exempt from work? Even the oppressor recognized that each nation must have its own leaders. Throughout history, be it the…
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Moses + One = ? (4:13)
On one hand, people shy away from challenge. There is a danger of failure. Were it not - it would not be a challenge - and no one likes to fail. On the other hand, we seek challenge, for confronting new opportunities lifts us out of the doldrums of ordinary existence.
In this week’s Biblical reading, the first in the Book of Exodus, G-d commissions Moses to return to Egypt and lead the Jewish people out of bondage. After repeated attempts to enlist the faithful shepherd, Moses replies, “Send, I pray You, by the hand of whom You will send.” If this sounds like acquiescence, the Midrash interprets this verse in the following manner. “Master of the Universe,” Moses pleads,...
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Snake Leaders (4:3)
I admit it, I love a good story. It should contain heroes and villains, conflict and a happy ending. In fact, even more than, “They all lived happily ever after,” I personally enjoy a smart conclusion whereby the hero upstages or outsmarts his antagonist. A classic example of this can be found in this week’s Biblical rendition of Moses at the Burning Bush.
At that juncture Moses is exhorted by Hashem to free the Jews from bondage. The humble shepherd responds, “They (the Jews) will not believe me,” to which G-d retorts, “Cast your staff on the ground.” When the staff miraculously metamorphoses into a snake, for some strange reason Moses runs away in fear. Bear in mind, that Moses…
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Afraid to See What He Sees (3:6)
Moses’ first foray into Jewish leadership was a bust, when the two Israelites he tried helping indignantly demanded. “Who appointed you as a prince…?” Moses had not yet thought of becoming a leader and already his qualifications were being challenged. It was a taste of things to come.
As a consequence, Moses was forced to flee Egypt and find refuge in Midian where his identity was unknown. As Jethro’s daughters whom he rescued told their father, “An Egyptian man saved us.” Moses looked, spoke, and dressed like an Egyptian. Anonymous at last, he married and settled down to the quiet life, far from Pharaoh and the Israelites.
Yet his past did not leave him alone. At the Burning Bush, G-d…
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A Burning Bush on I-95 (3:3)
Regardless of how limited one’s Jewish education may have been there are a number of Biblical episodes that most literate people are aware of. A painting depicting the Splitting of the Sea would be easily identified. A sculpture of the Ten Commandments is another recognizable artifact. How about Moses at the Burning Bush? Could you correctly guess the scene or would you slap your forehead after you were told the answer and mutter, “I should have gotten it!”
In Jewish history, there is a hardly an object more expounded upon than the Burning Bush. Its symbolism has been analyzed and debated for generations. But rather than discuss the actual bush and its meaning, let’s view the event from a totally…
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Look Who's in G-d's Orchestra (2:19)
The Sages are in agreement over this issue; the greatness of G-d can be found in the Midrash. Let me concur and add; the humility of Moshe Rabbeinu is found in the same place.
The debut of Moses’ career highlights his concern for others less fortunate. Growing up as a prince of Egypt, surrounded by luxury, Moshe could have easily forgotten his Jewish roots. Instead the Bible informs us, “He went out among his own people and saw their hard labor.” Once, upon observing an Egyptian taskmaster beating a Jew, he killed the slave driver, thus endangering his privileged status. Shortly thereafter, Moshe’s interference became known and he had to flee the country.
Arriving in Midian, he allowed himself to…
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His Name Was Moishe (2:10)
In this week’s Biblical reading we are introduced to one of the most revolutionary people ever to live, Moses, the Lawgiver and Redeemer. If anyone, it is he that should be credited with the widespread acknowledgment of monotheism, the nature of contemporary judicial law and the legislation of morality. Even the world’s major religions that opposed his word as final are based on the Torah he brought down from Sinai. So while we know what became of Moses, we have to wonder, what made him Moses? Who inspired this shepherd of sheep to evolve into a master of men and a deliverer from despots? Which individual imparted to Moses his ethics, his compassion, his sense of absolute right and wrong?...
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Help, We’re Drowning! (1:22)
The subjugation had begun in earnest. The guidance of Joseph, and the blessing of Jacob which had saved Egypt from famine and starvation, were memories conveniently forgotten. The new Pharaoh had turned the proud children of Israel into wretched slaves. Yet their spirit was not completely crushed. They continued having children, waiting and hoping for the redeemer to be born who would liberate them from bondage.
Pharaoh and his court were well aware of his subjects’ hopes. First they tried enlisting the Hebrew midwives to kill the male newborn. When it became apparent that they were not going to cooperate, Pharaoh conscripted the entire population. Each man, woman, and child was suddenly charged with the vile decree of wholesale infanticide….
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I’m Going to Get into Trouble for This One (1:15)
Once again the specter of a Jewish army flexing its considerable muscle against fellow Jews is front page news. However, this time it’s not Gush Katif, it’s Chevron; and it’s not a settlement at the edge of the country, it’s the City of the Patriarchs in the heartland itself. According to the Israeli papers some 4,000 security personnel will be mobilized to evacuate 8 Jewish families who are living on Jewishly owned land.
With no intent to offend, I simply raise this question: Is there a red line that a government (even a democratically elected one) can cross in the Holy Land that renders the decisions of that administration unholy? Is there ever a situation that allows, perhaps even demands,...
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Classic Anti-semitism (1:8)
It’s the classic story of anti-Semitism. Egypt’s political atmosphere changed from welcoming JACOB AND FAMILY as dignitaries, to suspicion, hatred, and finally, exploitation. The commentaries remark that the Egyptian experience is a paradigm for our own exile. With that in mind, this Torah reading deserves careful study as it is pertinent to our own situation.
In Exodus the Torah writes, “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.” It is abundantly clear that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Who wouldn’t have known Joseph? Without Joseph’s intervention, the years of famine would have destroyed the country. Today, someone like Joseph would have sports arenas, libraries, avenues, and shopping centers named after him. Children…
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“name and Number, Please” (1:1)
“Ever call the phone company to report a problem? Or maybe you wanted to order something using your credit card? Anyway, we all know the routine.”
First the line is busy. Eventually you get through to a recording that transfers you to another line. There you are directed by a second set of instructions until you finally reach a live human being whose first words are, “Name and number, please.” Number in these instances, of course, refers to a phone or credit card number.
How impersonal! How cold! Obviously the art of conversation has gone the way of the abacus.
But are names and numbers trivial? Let’s note Rashi’s commentary on the opening line in the Book of Exodus, where…
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Politics, the Un-jewish Game
Politics! One would imagine, with the elections being over, that we would not have to hear this word for another four years. Unfortunately, that is not proving to be true. From Talk Shows to political pundits, it seems as if there is nothing else to talk about. I guess I should not be surprised. Politics will always be around, as they were in the days of the Bible.
Surely you jest! You don’t mean that in the days of despots, kings and tyrants there were elections, campaigns and votes? Well, yes and no. Politics already existed way back then. And politicians did, on some level, have to keep their constituents happy or there might be a revolt. If you don’t…
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Wagons Ho!
Wagons! We’re not talking cowboys, Indians and Wild West wagons. Our tale is about Jacob, Joseph and ancient Egyptian wagons. In fact, at first I was completely baffled that the Torah would even bother mentioning a particular mode of transportation at all. But I can see that I am getting ahead of myself, so let me start at the beginning.
After more than two decades of separation, Tzafnas Paneach, the Viceroy of Egypt reveals himself as the long, lost brother Joseph. The other eleven forerunners of the Tribes of Israel return home and tell their aged father, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all of Egypt.”
One would have imagined that like a man drowning, Jacob would…
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