Friday Shabbat Shalom

Moshe, in the cliffhanger at the end of Parashat Shemot, was demoralized by the Hebrew slaves’ apathy towards their impending freedom. He was devastated by Pharaoh’s tightening the screws on the slaves and increasing their suffering to crush Moshe’s initiative (Exodus 5:6-6:1).

This week's Torah portion, Shemot, could be entitled "the birth of a leader." We see Moses, adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, growing up as a prince of Egypt. We see him as a young man, for the first time realising the implications of his true identity.

One of the hardest things that human beings are called upon to wrestle with is: Forgiveness. In Parshat Vayigash we have one of the finest models of it in how Yosef/ Joseph deals with his brothers.

This week's parasha, Miketz, and last week's parasha, Vayeishev, have the running theme of dreams. You'll recall that Yosef (Joseph) proclaims two dreams he has about his and his family's future --the bowing sheaves and the sun/moon/stars. Then later in life, Yosef listens to the dreams of Paro's (Pharoah's) chief cupbearer and chief baker who are imprisoned with him. And finally after being hauled out of prison, Paro himself tells Yosef his own dream that foreshadows the future for the entire nation of Egypt (7 fat cows/years, 7 lean cows/years).

Chanukah seems to celebrate a miracle that on the surface seems rather unimportant. Why is slowly burning oil an event that should be remembered generations later? Furthermore, what is it so significant about eight days? Why not seven or nine? I would like to share an insight that I believe underscores the theme of these days.

I find Parashat Vayishlach very applicable to some of the unresolved issues that we are going through today. We find Jacob going back home after 20 years. And for us, the year 2020 feels like 20 years in one!

Is Thanksgiving Jewish? Of course! Want to know how? Read on. On Thursday, we will pause and take a moment to say thanks. One of the perennial questions asked: Is Thanksgiving Jewish? We have a great answer, courtesy of Moshe Sokolow, professor of Jewish education at the Azrieli Graduate School of Yeshiva University...

This week’s Torah portion Toldot (meaning “generations”) is full of drama and betrayal, of parenting do’s and don’ts, of sibling rivalry, and questions of birthright. Essentially it contains a parenting manual of sorts-- we are given examples of what to do and what not to do in parenting.