Author Unknown (Provided by Joel Larry) In two Torah portions we see how Moshe’s leadership was unnecessarily challenged by a brazen act of public rebellion. Everyone witnessing the scene froze with uncertainty until Pinchas rose up with spear in hand and killed the offending parties together, on the spot. For this act of G-d’s glorification […]
The identity and relevance of Amalek are explored through this week’s Shabbos Zachor by Shelley Glaser. Every year, the Shabbos before Purim is called Zachor. Hashem commands us to remember the attack of Amalek on Bnei Israel when they left Egypt. This is done by the recitation of the Maftir (additional reading) in which we […]
By Shelley Glaser This week’s parsha contains within it ‘The Song at the Sea,’ which is the song that was sung by the Moses and B’nai Israel on their crossing of the Red Sea. Its importance is evidenced by the fact that its recited every day in our morning prayers, and read in Shul twice […]
By Shelley Glaser Judaism places great importance on history and memory. The reasons for this are highlighted by this week’s parsha – Bo. In it we read the words, “this day shall be to you as one of remembrance.” We are asked to, not only to be thankful for Hashem taking us out of Egypt, […]
By Shelley Glaser Parsha Va’eira deals with the epic and escalating battle between Pharaoh and Hashem. These are presented in the negotiations preceding and following the ten plagues. The plagues serve not only to punish the Egyptians, but to demonstrate the connection between God, his world and the Jewish people. Va’eira literally means “And I […]
By Shelley Glaser It is little known that the book of Shemoth and this week’s Parsha is ‘Shemoth’, meaning ‘Names’. While Shemoth does deal with the Exodus, its main focus is the creation of Bnai Israel and its Exodus as a nation from Egypt. ‘Names’ indicates how significant the issue of identity is in the […]
