Leonard Cohen Darkness
Leonard Cohen sings the Darkness, at the O2 Arena, Dublin on September 12th 2013
Rabbi Yosi Gordon: Vaera From Hard Servitude to Open Ears
Rabbi Gordon writes about the Israelites who didn’t listen to Moses, out of shortness of spirit and hard servitude. He asks: What are the workarounds for shortness of spirit and hard servitude? They are not like cell phones that can be silenced. He references Exodus Rabbah 6:5, which explains that the Israelites joined the idolaters because their status as slaves was fixed, and God didn’t seem to help.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z/l: Vaera Freedom and Truth
Rabbi Sacks comments on the fact that Moses implies the people will leave for 3 days to worship Adonai, when in fact the intention is to leave entirely. He recalls Jacob, who left Laban behind his back, and made an excuse not to travel together with Esau later on. Jacob was also misleading in the situation with the Shechemites when he proposed circumcision. Abraham and Isaac pretended their wives were sisters when leaving home because of famine.
You Will Be Found performed at Sanctuary: A Festival of Cantors
“You Will Be Found”
Performed by Cantor Jacqueline Rafii, Cantor Lisa Peicott & Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot
Rabbi David Fohrman: Shemot What’s In A Name?
Rabbi Fohrman compares the opening verses in Exodus to verses 46:8-27, which is almost the same. Why the repetition? He quotes Rashi, who wrote that the names of Bnai Yisrael were repeated because God wanted to hear them again.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Shemot Who Am I?
Moses asks 2 questions: Who am I? Who are You? God answers the second one but not the first. Moses was really questioning his capacity to be God’s representative. Like the prophets, he didn’t grow up with a sense of destiny, but became “heroes of the moral life against their will.” The answer to that question evolved over time.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Vayechi The Last Tears
7 different times during Bereishit, and for different reasons. The last time is when his father has died and his brothers still do not trust him, and they communicate a message from Jacob to forgive his brothers. Joseph realizes that while he holds total power over the fate of his family, yet he still yearns for their acceptance of him.
Rabbi Julian Sinclair: Vayechi Eating Holy Food in a Holy Way
When Jacob, on his deathbed, blesses his sons, 5 of those blessings relate to foods, underscoring the diversity of resources and produce in the land of Israel. He cites Rashi in interpreting the text.
Rabbi Ari Enkin: Vayechi Grandparents and Grandchildren
Rabbi Enkin presents an interesting dichotomy: while this week’s parashah and Talmud rulings indicate that grandchildren are to be considered as one’s actual children, Midrash states that one’s father must be honored first before the grandfather. There is considerable dialogue on this subject.
Wicked Take on Hanukkah by the Maccabeats
Wicked Take on Hanukkah by the Maccabeats