Parasha: Ki Tavo (2023)
BâHâItâs like a game of hide and seek.âRabbi Dovber of Mezrtich (1704â1772) explained that G-d tends to hide his presence from us, but then waits for us to search for him, when he makes his presence felt. There is a concept in Jewish Philosophy called âHashgachoa Protitâ- Divine providence.It means that G-d not only knows…
Parasha: Ki Teitzei (2023)
Connection, love and acceptance. One of the most important values of Judaism is âVeâahavta Lâreacha Kamochaâ – âLove your fellow as yourself.â Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698 â 1760) once said, that this love, could be the whole purpose of our entire life. In his words: âA soul enters this world for seventy or…
Parsha: Shoftim (2023)
Inspirational Judaism or committed Judaism? Which one is the right approach? The parsha opens with the words ׊×פ××× ×׊××ר××, we must have judges ׊×פ××× and officers ×׊××ר××. The judges represent logic, ideas that resonate with us, things that can be explained. Whereas, officers represent discipline and commitment, where we must obey and follow, even if…
Parsha: Re’eh (2023)
Itâs that time of year, from next week Friday we will start to blow the shofar, as we begin the month of Elul and prepare for the high holidays. The Month of Elul is an opportune time for retrospection and self-reflection. Itâs a time for Teshuva. Literally translated as ârepentanceâ, more accurately translated as returning…
Parsha: Eikev (2023)
Hard work and effort is an important value in Judaism. The Talmud puts it very nicely: Rabbi Yitzchak said if a person says to you, âI have worked hard and not found success,â do not believe him. Similarly, if he says to you: âI have not worked hard, but nevertheless, I have found success,â do…
Parahsa: Va’etchanan (2023)
How do we give true comfort? At this point of the year we go from mourning to a moment of comfort. The very name of the Shabbos is âShabbat Nachamuâ the Shabbat of comfort. Hashem is comforting us, after the difficult and sombre day of Tisha Bâav. It is difficult sometimes to know what to…
Parsha: Devarim (2023)
BâH This coming week we will commemorate the sad day of Tisha baâv. The day of fasting and mourning, over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple. This Shabbat is given a special name, it is called âShabbat Chazonâ literally the âShabbat of visionâ. This is because this week we read the Haftorah of…
Parsha: Matos Maasei (2023)
I have a good friend who would always quote âLife is a journey, enjoy the ride.â I believe there is a lot of meaning in that sentence. As a people we have been travelling and moving around for the last 2000 years. Jewish philosophy teaches us about the journey the soul makes from heaven until…
Parsha: Pinchas (2023)
The Gift of Shabbat. We have begun the period known as the 3 weeks. This begins on 17th of Tamuz until the 9th of Av known as Tisha Bâav. This is an annual mourning period that begins Thursday (6 July), 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the day when…
Parsha: Chukas Balak (2023)
When I studied in New York in 2009, I would often take the subways on Friday afternoons for our weekly outreach programs. On the walls of the subways there was a line that read, âIf you see something say somethingâ. Sometimes we have the following thought process: âWho am I to say something? Iâm sure…