Toldot Text message

Parashat Toldot (Generations)

Life is not always lineal and direct. We will always find people who will cheat, will not treat you as you expect, and try to take advantage of you.  

In this section it is our forefather, Jacob, who will cheat his father and steal the blessing from his brother. Jacob has the same root in Hebrew as “crooked,” while “Israel” has the same root as straight and honest.

What will Jacob use in order to cheat? Garments.  The words begged (garment), and meil (coat) are related to two other terms in Hebrew. Begged has the same root as traitor (bogged), and meil has the same root as meilah, a type of stealing and cheating.  

Watch out!!! Some people may dress very well but under the garments they may hide some things…

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher, Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak z”l.

Vayera text Message

Parashat Vayera (Hashem appeared)

The story of Sodom and Gomorra is very special.

At some point, the people who were trying to hurt God's messengers became blind.

“And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door” (Gen 19:11)

Apparently there is a contradiction in the verse. The “bad guys” were at the entrance, they became blind and now they could not find the entrance, but the text already mentioned that they were at the entrance!!!

A proposed explanation: Each of them wanted to be at the entrance; they were fighting for the same thing, and therefore, nobody could find it…

If we talk instead of fight, if we make sure there is enough for everybody, if we understand others’ needs, even if we all are blind, many doors will be opened.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher, Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak z”l.

Lech Lecha text message

Parashat Lech lecha (Go forth)

The story of the Jewish people starts with the following words: 
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”
Translations sometimes can trick us. In this case the word “shem,” translated as “name,” can be interpreted differently.
“Shem” means “goal” as well. 
Being blessed, becoming a blessing, and making for us a name, cannot be accomplished if our goals are not clear.
Let’s check what our goals in life are and we can becoming a blessing to others.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher, Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak Z”L.

Noah Text message

Noah (and his family) is the only one who lived in three different worlds.

He lived in a world of corruption and lawlessness before the flood;

He lived in a world of destruction during the flood;

And he lived in a world of hope and rebirth after the flood.

Corruption, destruction, but after that there is hope .

The first thing that Noah does when he leaves the ark is celebrate, he got drunk.

Always remember that after the destruction comes the hope, and that is a good reason to celebrate.

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