The fight for religious freedom is as important today as it was 2000 years ago, not only for Jews, but for people of all faiths. Despite the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, religious liberty is at risk in many parts of the world, for many faiths.
As Esau was responsible for his own choices in parashat Toledot, so was Jacob responsible for his choices. In his dream, he is not concerned with whether it was real or not, but in creating language that portrayed its mystical nature.
We are told that Isaac loved Esau, but we don’t know why. Didn’t Isaac see that Esau was a man of the outdoors, rather than a contemplative man of God? Surely, he must have known that Esau was a mercurial personality, marrying two Hittite women.
Rabbi Kipnes and Cantor Cotler apply Pardes—The Orchard of Torah Study—to Chanukah. They start with the Book of Maccabbees, which stated that the days of purification and triumph were like the days of Sukkot, establishing the annual celebration.
In this parashah, the text emphasizes chesed, which is central to the Jewish value system. He cites Rev Simlai, who taught that the Torah begins and ends with an act of kindness: God clothes the naked and God buries Moses. Many see chesed as even higher than tzedakah.
Rabbi writes about changing the world, using the lessons from parashat Vayeira; hospitality, kindness, meaningful dialogue, courage. In times of crisis, human actions can change biblical events.
Rabbi Sacks starts his Drash with a quote from Mark Twain:
When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to
have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at
how much the old man had learned in seven years.
When Noah was given the opportunity to contribute to the rebirth of the world, he was told by God that he would be surrounded by those who contain “Ruach HaChaim”. How do we know when we are called upon to act for the good of the world around us, how do we decide to act?
The flood is effectively the reversing of creation, but God’s chastisement and grace work together, bringing renewal out of the disaster. Dr. Bernstein comments on the uniqueness of Noah’s description—Tzadik and Ish Tam. No one else has his attributes. Yet, this is contrasted with the end of Noah’s life, filled with pathos.
Rabbi Ovadia addresses questions on several relevant and serious issues such as gender fluidity, intermarriage, and civility in politics, and others, such as the Jewish robot, RUjoo2.