The two parshiot this week are contrasts in emphasis – do we work on the whole, or strengthen the component parts? One wonders which of the two is more significant – a strong individual input, or a major collective effort? The answer encompasses both: personal integrity coupled with a sense of community mission.
Moses’ name doesn’t appear in this week’s Parsha even though he is its central figure. A name doesn’t express the essence of a person. It only identifies him for third parties. So, when G-d refers to Moses in the second person, ‘you’, that is even a more specific reference to Moses than his name.
When Moshe Rabbeinu first approached his enslaved brothers and sisters, they ignored him. Rashi notes their breathing was stressfully shallow and short. A person of faith sidesteps anxiety and stress to move forward in life, as did the Jewish people who regained belief after the ten plagues.
Yosef is described as a ‘handsome’ man, referring to his inner beauty. By evolving your inner qualities, you leverage your capacity to influence the world for the better
Yaakov’s stay with Lavan is described as ‘garti’ – a temporary stay or estrangement. He never viewed amassing wealth with the rich Lavan as his goal, and viewed his stay as temporary, and remained estranged from Lavan’s values, maintaining Taryag Mitzvot.
Yaakov places stones around his head when going to sleep on his way to Lavan. The symbolism: to protect his mind, his true goals, while working for the wily Lavan.
Why circumcise a child at 8 days? Should we not wait till the child attains the age of reason and make decisions then? Commitment goes beyond reason. It is the axiomatic bond that underlies the relationship, not reason. The baby, at 8 days, commits to G-d.
People seek spiritual growth and awareness, which is laudable, but Chassidus teaches us that taking care of our body is equally, if not more, important, for a surprising reason.
The young Rebbe Rashab cries saying it’s not fair that G-d appeared to Abraham but not to him! The grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek, explains why Abraham deserved G-ds appearance, as we too deserve it if we stand firm in life’s severe tests.
Life’s tests aren’t there to destroy us but to strengthen and advance our growth as with Abraham. And as we see also with the soul’s descent into a body.
The Flood was not a ‘punishment’ but a ‘behaviour modification’ device to ’cleanse’ a corrupt world. Today we overcome the flood of worries and concerns by changing our thought patterns and taming the ego.
Beginnings set the template for future development. Of particular significance is the beginning of a child’s growth as that future is what becomes the nature of society.
This 5 part series is an exploration of the secrets contained in the beginning of the book of Bereshit (Genesis). Drawing on the teachings of the scholars and mystics, Rabbi Menachem Wolf reveals the incredible messages and timeless lessons that are encoded in the words of the Torah. Introduction: The relationship of science and religion,…
The world is made up of disparate elements of mineral, vegetable, animal, human, and spiritual. Mineral is subdivided into the 118 (at last count) elements of the Periodic table. There are an estimated 400,000 specials of plants on earth. And up to 30 million specials of animals inhabit the planet. We humans are approaching 8…
