Birthrights and Blessings Here is a summary of how Ya’akov, the second born son, ended up with both the birthright and blessing of the firstborn. “29 Once when Yaakov was cooking stew, Asav came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Asav said to Yaakov, "Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!" (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Yaakov said, "Sell me your birthright now." 32 Asav said, "I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?" 33 Yaakov said, "Swear … [Read more...] about Weekly Torah Lesson
Rosh Chodesh
At sundown, Thursday, 11/8/18, the month of Cheshvan comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh Keslev begins. Rosh Chodesh is not a prescribed monthly Shabbat but it is commanded to be “observed”. In 1Samuel 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 observance is … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh
Weekly Torah Lesson
Who was Tzarah? “1 Tzarah lived one hundred years and twentyyears and seven years; these were the years of the life of Tzarah. 2 So Tzarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Avraham came to mourn for Tzarah and to weep for her.” (Ge 23:1-2 ) ** Tzara, Avraham’s wife, is the only woman whose age is listed in the Scriptures. … [Read more...] about Weekly Torah Lesson
Kindness vs Heresy
They asked the Baal Shem Tov, “The Talmud tells us that for everything G d forbade, He provided us something permissible of the same sort. If so, what did He permit that corresponds to the sin of heresy?” The Baal Shem Tov replied, “Acts of kindness.” Because when you see a person suffering, you don’t say, “G d runs the universe. G d will take care. G d knows what is best.” You do everything in your power to relieve that suffering as though there is no G d. You become a heretic in G d’s name. … [Read more...] about Kindness vs Heresy
Why Food?
"Avraham stood over them under the tree and they ate." (Genesis 18:8) What more spiritual activity could there be than eating, when it is done not only with the mouth, but with the mind? When a human being eats what is defined as ‘proper’ and his mind and soul are engaged, he separates the good from the bad, the divine from the mundane. The food rises to a higher realm For, in mindful eating, the human soul reaches beyond the entire order of being. Avinu created plants and animals to produce … [Read more...] about Why Food?
Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: VaYera – and He appeared Torah: BeReishit 18:1 – 22:24 The Akidah (binding, stripe) 22:1 Avinu “tests” Avraham; 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Yitzaak, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Avraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Yitzaak his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose … [Read more...] about Weekly Torah Lesson