Behar Text Message

Parashat Behar (at the mountain)           

In Leviticus Chapter 25 (that holds most of the text of our section) three times we find verses that start with the following words:

“ If one of your fellow Israelites faces financial difficulty,” verses 25, 35 and 39.

The first verse talks about someone who needs to sell part of his property.

The second verse deals with a person that needs to borrow money.

The third verse talks about an individual who sells him/herself as a slave to pay a debt.

What I did not mention on purpose, is that in the third verse after the words, “ If one of your fellow Israelites faces financial difficulty” there is an addition, the word עמך , (with you).

In life, we do not know when we will need money or when we will be able to lend money, but we always need to remember not to leave alone those who are in great need.

The Torah reminds us with a minor detail, “to never let alone,” how important it is to help the needy.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Emor Text message

Parashat Emor (You shall tell)

In this section we are commanded to count the Omer. Every day between Pesach and Shavuot we add one more day.

In Biblical times this mitzvah expressed a strong agricultural relationship between the people of Israel and its land.

How can the Jews who live outside of Israel relate to this mitzvah, too?

I strongly believe that counting the Omer expresses our deep desire to be further from Egypt and closer to Sinai.

Every day that passes we are less slaves and more a holy people.

Rabbi Fabian Werbin

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Kedoshim Text message

Parashat Kedoshim (you shall be a holy nation)

There is an explicit prohibition in the Torah that has become very relevant in recent decades.

In Leviticus 19:29, the Torah forbids tattoos. The main reason for this prohibition is learned from the context in which it appears, and, it is that other nations used to have tattoos on their bodies (maybe some type of idolatry).

It is not a secret that many young people (and adults, too) have chosen to have tattoos on their bodies.

Here is where the Torah becomes more relevant.  During the Shoah many Jews were forced to have a number marked on their arms. It is difficult to understand how some may do it voluntarily…

The prohibition against making a tattoo on your body is still current, and after the Shoah, it gained a new significance.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Acharei Mot text message

Parashat Acharei mot (After the death)

The text surprised us…

Leviticus 18:3 “You must not do things like they are done in the land of Egypt, where you used to live. And you must not do things like they are done in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you.”

So… If you are not supposed to do things like in Egypt or Canaan, you are supposed to do things like… in the desert - in the Midvar.

The desert was the place where we received the mitzvoth, where we formed as a people, where we built ourselves.

The Torah is telling us, keep building yourself every day. Do not think that the start or the end is what matters. What matters is the journey. As Antonio Machado says in his famous poem (in Spanish):  Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar. “Wayfarer, there is no way. Make your way by going farther.”

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z"L

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Fabian Werbin

Shabbat candles in Bethesda 7:48

Shabbat ends : 8:49