Lech l’cha 5779

Lech l'cha

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In this week Parsha, Lech l’lecha, we are introduced to our father, Avraham Avinu. From the very first story of Avraham and throughout his life he is constantly being challenged. Avraham and his life are the stem cells from which the Jewish people are formed. It would appear that the Jew must recognize that we are here on this world to deal with challenges. In truth, anyone who has traveled along the path of life for any significant amount of time already knows that life presents everyone challenges. Neither Avraham was unique in his challenge filled life, nor are the Jewish people unique with their challenge filled lives. What makes Avraham unique and what makes us unique is the manner in which we deal with our challenges.

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Lech L’cha 5778

Lech l'cha

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THE PUZZLE AND THE PICTURE

This week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, introduces us to our father Avraham. We find throughout the Torah and throughout the liturgy of our siddur how beloved Avraham Avinu was to Hakadosh baruch Hu. He was the one person that HaShem waited for, from whom His world would achieve its mission. What was Avraham’s specialness that made him so beloved? Avraham was not the first man to recognize HaKadosh baruch Hu, Noach and Shem and others had already done so.

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Noach 5782

Noach

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THE JEWISH COMMUNITY; NOTHING QUITE LIKE IT!

The Maharal teaches us that HaShem did not give the Torah to Avraham, Yitzchok or Yaakov because they were mortal. They would pass on. The Torah is immortal and must therefore be placed in the hands of an immortal custodian. For this reason HaShem waited for the children of the former to develop into a nation. A nation / a community can be an immortal entity.
It is for this reason the power of a community/nation is so great; it is the mechanism by which HaShem was able to bequeath His Torah to Humanity. Through the community of Israel Mankind has Torah in their midst.

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Noach 5781

Noach

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WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Excerpted from a thought of Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky

This week’s Parsha, Noach, underscores the distinction between Noach’s approach to helping the people of his generation and Avraham’s approach. Both Noach and Avraham lived in periods of overwhelming paganism and yet Noach was unsuccessful in turning the people of his generation around while Avraham was very successful. Both Noach and Avraham addressed the foolishness of idolatry. They both explained and argued how the source of all powers originates from HaShem and all else is but an expression of HaShem’s greatness. Why did Avraham succeed and Noach failed?

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Noach 5779

Noach

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WHY WE ARE WHO WE ARE?

This week’s Parsha, Noach, presents us the personality of Noach and contrasts him with our father Avraham. Regarding Noach the Torah states that he was a perfect tzadik who walked with HaShem. Regarding Avraham HaShem instructs him “walk before Me and be perfect”. In this short contrast there are two noteworthy distinctions. The first is that Noach walks with HaShem while Avraham walks in front of HaShem. The second distinction is that Noach is perfect and Avraham is to become perfect implying that he is not yet perfect.

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Breishis 5783

Breishis

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APPRECIATION; THE VERY FIRST EXPECTATION

Immediately following the seven days of creation the Torah tells us that HaShem did not bring rain to the world. In spite of all the vegetation being created on the third day no plant began its growth until the first rain. That first rain did not occur until after Adam was created on the sixth day. The reason HaShem waited for Man to arrive was because there was nobody who would appreciate the rain. Adam knew that rain was needed and he davened that it should rain. It was only after his prayer and his recognition did HaShem bring rain to the world.

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Breishis 5779

Breishis

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THE MAP

We have now arrived at the other end of the Elul – Rosh Hashanah – Yom Kippur – Succos – Simchas Torah period. We recited Psalm 27 twice a day, we blew the shofar daily, every day we woke up earlier than usual, we recited hundreds of selichos and walked round the Torah scrolls. With all that behind us we will now begin reading the Torah from it’s very beginning.

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