Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’l: Mishpatim – Doing and Hearing
One of the most famous phrases in the Torah makes its appearance in this week’s parsha. It has often been used to characterise Jewish faith as a whole.
Zev Eleff: How New York’s 19th Century Jews Turned Purim Into An American Party
The Purim story is relevant to American Jews today in the themes of charges of dual loyalty, and marriage outside of Judaism. Contemporary political leaders continue to argue that Jews can’t be trusted if they are loyal to Israel and the threat of assimilation is ongoing.
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Parasha Yitro – Embracing our Identity
Rabbi Ruditsky cites Rabbi Sacks in his article, stating that the Jews received their Law before their land. Therefore, when they lost their land, they retained their identity. Rabbi Ruditsky develops the concept by discussing the meaning of “a holy nation”, observing that “being holy” doesn’t mean “being perfect”, but about behavior ongoing.
Rabbi Mordecai Finley: Thoughts on Torah Portion Va-eira – “The Strands and the Cord”
The reader typically is awestruck by the appearance of the Angel in the heart of the fire, and the Voice of God being revealed to Moses. From that voice comes Moses’s life’s purpose. In God’s commanding Moses to lead the people out of Egypt, all the strands of Moses’s painful past are tied into a cord
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Let Freedom Sing
Rabbi Ruditsky compares ya’shir — they will sing — to ya’shar — they will go straight. From this, he derives the concept that the Israelites will look forward to tomorrow, seeing their freedom directly in front of them. The Song of the Sea is about tomorrow. The parashah doesn’t promise that there will never be another Pharaoh, nor that the world will be free from hatred, but it teaches that we should look forward, not backward.
Rabbi Cantor Eva Robbins: The Quiet Magnificence of Tu B’Shevat
Rabbi Cantor Robbins describes the spiritual depth of Tu B’Shevat, from the linguistic perspective of “15”, the Name of God, and the concept of the Tree of Life.
Refael Kramer: Parashat Beshelach
Refael Kramer references Likutei Halachot, Tolaiim 4, in comparing Beshelach to Rabbi Nachman’s story of The Queen’s Daughter, who escaped the unwelcome attentions of an evil suitor by entering a castle of water.
Rabbi Shraga Simmons: Parashat Beshelach
Rabbi Simmons references the Stockholm Syndrome, as it applies to the Israelites under Pharaoh.
Rabbi Sharon Brous: Imagine a Bible with No Moses, No Story of Exodus
Rabbi Brous writes about the Slave Bible, originally published in 1807, wherein every reference to the Exodus from Egypt was redacted. The purpose of this text was to introduce slaves to Christianity while simultaneously preserving the system of slavery.
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Parish Bo – Getting to the Heart of the Matter
In the Torah, both good and bad deeds come from the heart. In contrast, Pharaoh considered himself a god in his heart, with the right to decide life and death. Yet Pharaoh made the very human choice to be led by his yetzer harah.