Joseph And The Risks Of Power
Mikketz represents the most sudden and radical transformation in the Torah. Joseph, in a single day, moves from zero to hero, from forgotten, languishing prisoner to viceroy of Egypt, the most powerful man in the land, in control of the nation’s economy.
The Power Of Praise
No one has all the strengths. Sufficient if we have one. But we must also know what we lack.
A People That Dwells Alone?
These are important fights, good fights, whose outcome will affect more than Jews.
Leadership Beyond Despair
We identify with the heroes of the Bible because, despite their greatness, they never cease to be human, nor do they aspire to be anything else. Hence the phenomenon of which the sedra of Beha’alotecha provides a shattering example: the vulnerability of some of the greatest religious leaders of all time, to depression and despair.
A Nation Of Storytellers
A large part of what Moshe is doing in the book of Devarim is retelling that story to the next generation, reminding them of what G-d had done for their parents and of some of the mistakes their parents had made. Moshe, as well as being the great liberator, is the supreme storyteller. Yet what he does in this week's parsha, Ki Tavo, extends way beyond this.
The Fewest Of All Peoples
Israel shows the world that a people does not have to be large in order to be great.
A Father’s Love
Isaac surely knew that his elder son was a man of mercurial temperament who lived in the emotions of the moment.
The Power of Dreams
Joseph may have known ancient Egyptian traditions about seven-year famines.
Women As Leaders
Wherever leadership depends on personal qualities and not on office or title, there is no distinction between women and men.
Improbable Endings And The Defeat Of Despair
Parshat Vayeshev has the form of a Greek tragedy. Judaism is the opposite of tragedy. It tells us that every bad fate can be averted and that despair is never justified; today’s curse may be the beginning of tomorrow’s blessing.
An Honorable Failure
Even before they were born, Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb. They were destined, it seems, to be eternal adversaries. Not only were they different in character and appearance, they also held different places in their parents’ affections.
Putting Judaism Before Assimilation
The drama of younger and older brothers, which haunts the book of Bereishit from Cain and Abel onwards, reaches a strange climax in the story of Joseph’s children. Jacob is nearing the end of his life. Joseph visits him, bringing with him his two sons, Manasheh and Ephraim. It is the only scene of grandfather and grandchildren in the book. Jacob asks Joseph to bring them near so that he can bless them. What follows next is described in painstaking detail:
Not So Strange
Whichever way we look at it, there is something striking about this almost endlessly iterated concern for the stranger – together with the historical reminder that “you yourselves were slaves in Egypt.” It is as if, in this series of laws, we are nearing the core of the mystery of Jewish existence itself. What is the Torah implying?
The Right And The Good
There are important features of the moral life that are not universal but have to do with specific circumstances and the way we respond to them.
The Rejection Of Rejection
The people may be faithless to G-d but G-d will never be faithless to the people.
Silencing The ‘I’ To Meet God
How do we come to know that “God is in this place”? “By ve’anokhi lo yadati – not knowing the I. ”We sense the “Thou” of the Divine Presence when we move beyond the “I” of egocentricity. Only when we stop thinking about ourselves do we become truly open to the world and the Creator.
The Egyptian March Of Folly
There is a fascinating moment in the unfolding story of the plagues that should make us stop and take notice. Seven plagues have now struck Egypt.
Sages And Saints
There was an ongoing debate between the Sages as to whether the nazirite – whose laws are outlined in this week’s parshah – was to be praised. Recall that the nazirite was someone who voluntarily, usually for a specified period, undertook a special form of holiness. This meant that he was forbidden to consume wine or any grape products, to have a haircut, and to defile himself by contact with the dead.
Communication Matters
Isaac never intended to give the blessing of the covenant to Esau. He intended to give each child the blessing that suited them.
The Virtues Of Judaism
Who am I? What are the most important things in my life? What do I want to be remembered for? If, as a purely...
A Nation Of Leaders
Israel can learn practical politics from a Midianite but it must learn the limits of politics from G-d Himself.
Elijah And The Still, Small Voice
Maimonides insists that it is not so. “It is not right to alienate, scorn and hate people who desecrate the Sabbath,” he said. “It is our duty to befriend them and encourage them to fulfill the commandments.”
A Leader Needs A Friend
Moses intervenes on Miriam’s behalf with simple eloquence in the shortest prayer on record with five words: ‘Please, G-d, heal her now.’
Moving Forward
Joseph had, in double measure, one of the necessary gifts of a leader: the ability to keep going despite opposition, envy, false accusation and repeated setbacks.
A Palace In Flames
Avraham is the father of faith--not as acceptance but as protest
G-d’s Shadow
Art in Hebrew – omanut – has a semantic connection with emunah, faith or faithfulness. A true artist is faithful both to his materials and to the task...
Violence And The Sacred
Had G-d not told the first humans: ‘Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves in the ground’? That is why Abel brought an animal sacrifice.
The Role Of Time In Social Transformation
Torah opposes slavery; G-d desires the free worship of free human beings, yet slavery's permitted-?!
Korach: Cancel Culture’s Precursor
Their aim was to discredit Moshe, damage his credibility, raise doubts among the people as to whether he really was receiving his instructions from G-d.
Time For Love, Time For Justice
Albert Einstein said it was the ‘almost fanatical love of justice’ that made him thank his lucky stars that he was born a Jew.
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