Vayera Text message

Parashat Vayera (Hashem appeared)

This section opens with the messengers (angels) visiting Abraham.
According to Rashi, each of them had a task to perform. “One to bring the news [of Isaac’s birth] to Sarah, and one to overturn Sodom, and one to heal Abraham, for one angel does not perform two errands (Gen. Rabbah 50:2).”
Why it is necessary to remark that one angel does not perform two tasks? At the end of the day, they were angels, and one would have been enough. We may assume an angel could multitask…
It seems like neither angels nor human beings are very good at multitasking.
It is always better to perform one task correctly than many incorrectly.

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

Text message Lech Lecha

Parashat Lech Lecha (Go for yourself)

The Torah doesn’t like to “waste” words. Every single word has an important meaning and we need to learn from each of them, especially when there is repetition within the same verse or the same idea is being expressed.

Genesis 12:10 tells us: “And there was a famine in the land. And Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was grievous in the land.” Why it is necessary to repeat that there was a famine?

An interesting interpretation is that there were two types of famine: one a physical famine and the other, a spiritual famine.

One of the most common mistakes we make in modern times is to provide a material answer to a spiritual problem.

Let us think seriously about what type of famine we are facing and how we are going to respond to it.

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

Noah Text message

Parashat Noah

This week’s section starts with an introduction of Noah and then the following verse: (Genesis 6:10) “And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”

We all know the story of the flood, the ark, and the dove with the olive branch.

After the flood was over, we find the following verse: (Genesis 9:18) “ And the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth…”

It may seem that these words do not add a lot of information. Maybe the Torah is telling us that Noah didn’t have more kids in the ark. Or maybe the Torah is trying to tell us: The names are the same names but the people are different people.

They experienced “something” that changed their lives. Even though we know their names, they are different people. In fact, the verse ends telling us: “And Ham is the father of Canaan”.

It is not just about them themselves now, it’s about continuity and taking advantage of the experiences that change lives.

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

Bereshit Text Message

Parashat Bereshit (Genesis)

The first parasha of the Torah ends with a very interesting verse. It is a prelude to what we will be reading in the following parasha, Noah.

It is written (Genesis 6:8) “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord”; in Hebrew, ונח מצא חן בעיני ה"

If you carefully read the Hebrew, Noach was able to find his opposite; in Hebrew, “favor” is “Noach” written backwards. He is the only character in the Bible who found his “opposite.”

Think for a minute who or what is your exact opposite, your “rival”.

If you found your opposite, now find favor in his/her eyes and you may save the whole world.

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

Text message Haazinu

Parashat Ha’azinu

This section has a very particular layout in the Torah scroll. Most of the text of this parasha is written in two columns.

This is a song, Moses’ final song before his departure to Mount Nevoh where he will die.

The first verse that comes after the song (and here the text returns to its normal layout) says:  “And Moses spoke all the words of this song for the people to hear.”

Was it a song or maybe a poem? But Moses spoke the words to the people rather than singing them or reciting as one might for a poem.

Sometimes the right words may resonate better than the best melody and, on other occasions, the sound of a good melody can be better than thousands of words.

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

Vayelech Text message

Parashat Vayelech (Moses went)

One very special mitzvah is added towards the end of the book of Deuteronomy. It is called “Hakhel”.

The leader (king) of the Jewish people should gather all the people during the festival of Sukkot, once every seven years in the year after the “shmita”.

Once they are all together, the king should read aloud the Torah.

Wasn’t the Torah already read on Shabbat and Mondays and Thursdays? What is the point of reading it again?

The point is not only to listen to the Torah, but also to see others doing the same thing you are doing and knowing you are not alone.

On days when we see synagogues filled with people, we need to remember those who cannot attend and may feel lonely.

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

Nitzavim Text message

Parashat Nitzavim (Firm)

This short section of Deuteronomy has the longest series of dots on top of letters in the Torah.

In 10 different places in the Torah scroll, letters get dots on top of them.

In this section there are 11 letters next to each other with dots on top of them.

This section is always read the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.

Perhaps the 11 dots remind us of the 11 months of the year we didn’t behave very well, but now, with the arrival of Tishrei and a new year, we look for a new opportunity.

A new beginning without black marks, without stains. That may happen only if we remember the previous 11 dots.

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