R Memmi

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha:  Bo – comeTorah:  Shemot 10:1 – 13:16 This question which Avinu put before Paro through Moshe applies to every human being on the planet. We all, in some degree, have a piece of “Paro” within us. Being “humble” is being obedient when we don’t understand the reasoning behind the instruction. Then Avinu said to Moshe, "Go in to Paro, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, (Shemot 10:1a) Although it would have been difficult, Avinu … [Read more...] about How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me..?

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Va’era and I appearedTorah:  Shemot 6:2 – 9:35 A synonym of the verb, to redeem is to ransom.  It could mean, to buy back or to trade something in order to own something else. Judaism teaches that Moshe was the “redeemer” of Israel from Mitzryim.  The Scriptures say that Avinu  is their “Redeemer”. 6 say to the children of Israel, I am Avinu, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Mitzryimians, and I will rid you out of … [Read more...] about The Redeemer

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: va Yechi  and he livedTorah:  Bereishit 47:28 – 50:26 This seventeen year saga in the life of our father, Ya’akov, helps us to understand  the “power” of a promise when the source of that promise is Avinu. Ya’akov is one hundred and thirty years old when he receives the news that his son, Yosef, is not only alive but is the second in command of Mitzryim. Being determined to see his son before he dies, Ya’akov packs up his entire family and heads South to the … [Read more...] about Ya’akov Comes Home

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Va Yegash – and he drew nearTorah: Bereishit 44:18 – 47:27 The beginning of this week’s Torah portion is referred to as a “shadow of things to come”.  Yosef has set up a situation where he is demanding that the brothers give him Benyamin to be his slave.  This is similar to a situation that occurred approximately twelve years earlier when Yosef’s brothers sold him into slavery. Now he is waiting to see if they are willing to repeat the same sin with his … [Read more...] about The Shadow

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha:  Miketz  At the endTorah:  B’reishit 41:1 – 44:17 Here is a great lesson on “timing” - Avinu’s timing verses ours. Yosef had been kidnapped from his brothers, brought down to Mitzryim and sold to Potifer, an assistant to Paro. Approximately eight years later, he was put into prison where he was forced to wait on two of Paro’s assistants that  were being punished for their indiscretion. Both men had strange dreams and told them to Yosef so he could interpret  … [Read more...] about Perfect Timing