Rabbi Daniel Bouskila: Sephardic Torah from the Holy Land Eleven Months Later, Elul is Here…Finally
Eleven months is the traditional period of mourning. But Elul also brings light – the light that comes from self-examination and soul searching.
Eleven months is the traditional period of mourning. But Elul also brings light – the light that comes from self-examination and soul searching.
Rabbi Sacks addresses the conundrum of Moses’ commands regarding the Egyptians vs the Amalekites: The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and attempted to drown every male child. Yet one instruction is to “…not despise an Egyptian because you were strangers in his land.” The Amalekites attacked once and were successfully repelled, yet the second command is to “blot out the name.” Rabbi Sacks applies the concept of conditional love to hate. Conditional love only lasts as long as the particular condition. Likewise, when hate has a rational basis it can end, whereas unconditional hatred cannot be reasoned with.