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March 25, 2024 – 8:50 pm | Comments Off on Why We Must Resist The Cease Fire Resolution31 views

Tzav: Fighting Evil
We are surrounded by evil; every so often, it rears its ugly head as it did on Simchat Torah—the October 7 massacre. Pure evil raped Jewish mothers, burned Jewish babies alive, mutilated their fathers, and beheaded their neighbors. Pure evil burned loving couples clinging to each other, to …

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Articles in Bereishit

Vayetze: Modern Antisemitism

December 4, 2005 – 3:29 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: Modern Antisemitism4,838 views
modern antisemitism

Discrimination
I recently entered a shoe repair shop and asked for a quote on a minor repair job. I was surprised by the relatively high quote and explained that I had never been quoted so steep a price. The proprietor asked if I was Jewish. When I asked him to explain …

Vayetze: Is Leaving Israel a Descent?

December 4, 2005 – 3:28 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: Is Leaving Israel a Descent?2,747 views
is leaving israle a descent?

To Haran
“And Jacob departed Beer Sheba and went towards Haran.” (Genesis 28, 10) When Abraham left Israel for Egypt the Torah characterized his departure as a descent. (Genesis 12, 10) Rashi explains that since Israel is the most exalted of all lands, all departures from Israel constitutes a descent. Why …

Vayetze: Stimulating Trials

December 4, 2005 – 3:12 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: Stimulating Trials2,546 views
jewish strength

Jacob and Laban
This week’s Parsha describes our Patriarch Jacob’s journey from parents’ home to the home of his uncle Laban. This was a journey from a place of sacred purity to a pit of immorality and deceit. Understandably, it was a difficult journey.

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Vayetze: Identifying the Beast Within

December 4, 2005 – 3:08 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: Identifying the Beast Within2,125 views
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The Commercial Enterprise
Our Patriarch Jacob grew wealthy through his cattle enterprises. He first raised a great flock of sheep. He sold the sheep and purchased oxen, sold the oxen and purchased camel, sold the camel, and purchased donkey, sold the donkey and purchased valuables.

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Vayetze: A Prayer for Life

December 4, 2005 – 3:01 am | Comments Off on Vayetze: A Prayer for Life2,589 views
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How Do We Survive?
Our sages tell us that our forefather Jacob’s journey from B’er Sheva to Charan is symbolic of the daily journey made by the soul. For a Jew, every morning begins with prayer and Torah study. Pretty soon however, this period of the day comes to a close …

Toldot: Do Jews Dig Wells?

December 4, 2005 – 2:54 am | Comments Off on Toldot: Do Jews Dig Wells?2,488 views
do jews dig wells - innerstream

The Thrill of Discovery
Did you know that our patriarchs were devoted well diggers? Imagine digging for hours or even days on end, with no visible success. You dig thirty meters and find only soil and rock. You wonder about your prospects. You wonder if your efforts are in vain. (1) 

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Toldot: What Is In A Name?

December 4, 2005 – 2:52 am | Comments Off on Toldot: What Is In A Name?2,405 views
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Jacob and Esau – Twin Brothers
We are told that Esau, the older brother, physically mature at birth. The Hebrew name Esav means ‘finished’, or complete, indicating that he completed his growth process. Jacob, the second son, emerged in hot pursuit with his tiny hand tightly clasping his brother’s heel. The …

Toldot: Inner Conflict

December 4, 2005 – 2:46 am | Comments Off on Toldot: Inner Conflict2,679 views
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The Warring Nations
“There two nations are in your womb and two regimes from your innards will separate”.  The ethos of these words, told to our Matriarch Rivkah with regards to the twins she was carrying in her womb, echo across generations with the clarity of prophetic vision. Every Jew struggles …