Shemot – What’s in a Name?

Shemot – What’s in a Name?

The word ‘shemot’ means ‘names’. A name can never describe the essence of the person, and yet it identifies him or her.  Likewise, G-d has many names which help us identify G-d’s nature and various attributes but can’t reflect the essence of G-dliness. Just as we strive to know a person beyond the name, so

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Shemot – Who is The Free Spirit?

Shemot – Who is The Free Spirit?

In this week’s Parsha of Shemot we read of the beginning of the descent of the Jewish people into Egypt. But the same section also narrates G-d’s promise of Israel’s future liberation. In the very throes of exile lie the seeds of redemption. Exile and redemption are two sides of the human condition. Yet they

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Shemot – The Lure of Exile

Shemot – The Lure of Exile

We slid into the Egyptian exile by trying to be more patriotic than the Egyptians. We built their cities and designed their buildings. Yet ultimately we were totally rejected. People don’t like ‘look-alikes’. They value pride in distinctiveness and principled people. Our agenda must be to share what is universal with our neighbours while maintaining

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Shemot – What’s In A Name?

Shemot – What’s In A Name?

When did a name first begin? A name belies the essence of the spiritual force that animates it. We are the Ivri descendants of 2 of the 12 tribes –Binyamin and Yehuda – hence we are Yehudim. But our characteristic is Ivri – the other-sider – the outsider – and that has been our historical

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