At sundown, Thursday , 12/28/2019, the month of kislev comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh Tevet begins. Rosh Chodesh is not a prescribed monthly Shabbat but it is commanded to be “observed”. In 1 Samuel 20, we see that particular Rosh Chodesh was being observed for two days . Some use this recorded biblical event as proof that the current calendar based method of determining the arrival of Rosh Chodesh today was in use earlier than the construction of the first Temple. This two day … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh Tevet
At The End
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Miketz At the end Torah: B’reishit 41:1 – 44:17 ** Yosef had been enslaved in Mitzryim (Egypt; confinement, restriction for thirteen years. He was not only enslaved in Mitzryim, he was enslaved to Mitzryim as well. He was forced to serve them in every facet of their lives. Mitzryim’s elite benefited from Yosef’s enslavement. He became a valuable asset to them. Releasing him wasn’t something that they thought about very often. A good slave was hard to … [Read more...] about At The End
When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: va yeshev – and he dwelt Torah: Bereishit 37:1 – 40:23 ** Have you ever gone for a period of time in your life when the things that happened to you just didn’t seem to be “fair”? It has happened to me several times. Today’s Torah Lesson documents such a period in the life of, Yaakov’s son, Yosef. ** 37:18-24 Yosef’s brothers see him coming and plot to kill him; Reuvein talks them into putting him into a pit until he can return him to Ya’akov; The … [Read more...] about When Life Doesn’t Seem Fair
Just Retribution?
Weekly Torah Lesson Parsha: Va Yishlach – and he sentTorah: Bereishit 32:3 – 36:43 ** “Just Retribution” is the concept that the punishment fits the crime. I am curious to know what your thoughts are about the following situation. BeReishit 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 3 And his soul joined to Dinah the daughter of Ya’akov, and he loved the damsel, and spoke kindly to the … [Read more...] about Just Retribution?
The Power of the Tongue
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: va Yeitzei – and he went outTorah: Bereishit 28:10 – 32:3 ** Yaakov was under pressure from Lavan, his father in law, who had just caught up to him after a seven day chase. Lavan was upset and making a lot of accusations. Yaakov was getting heated up and blurted out a response: *** “With whomsoever you find your gods, let him not live: before our brothers discern you what is your with me, and take it to you. For Yaakov knew not that Rachel had stolen … [Read more...] about The Power of the Tongue
Rosh Chodesh Kislev
At sundown, Thursday , 11/28/2019, the month of Cheshvon comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh Kislev begins. Rosh Chodesh is not a prescribed monthly Shabbat but it is commanded to be “observed”. In 1 Samuel 20, we see that particular Rosh Chodesh was being observed for two days . Some use this recorded biblical event as proof that the current calendar based method of determining the arrival of Rosh Chodesh today was in use earlier than the construction of the first Temple. This two day … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh Kislev