When we talk about the villain of the Purim story, Haman, we most often go to the origins of his ancestor, Amalek, noting how he (his nation) waged war on those of the children of Israel that were week and lingering at the end of the procession on their way out of Egypt: וַיָּבֹ֖א עֲמָלֵ֑ק…
Tag: Talmud
Gd for Us, or We for Gd?
Some thoughts about Chanukah: History is not something one can run away from even if one is not comfortable with it. Jewish history is complicated to say the least. In the days of Hanukah, things were very complicated. Consequently, we have very different texts speaking to us about the events of that time with different…
Random Spring Pre-Purim Thoughts
Spring is, inevitably, coming. And, with it come hopes, dreams of the better future, associations with pink / rosy glasses. Time and again, my mind races back and forth bringing pleasant thoughts and emotions and going back to the darkness that is so ingrained in my whole being. Personal ups and downs are mixed today…
It’s Over. Hopefully, not for Long
Riding in a Nesher sherut, I can hardly hold back tears. Despite missing my family, and worrying about my mother, especially, my heart aches at the thought that I am leaving Jerusalem in a couple of hours. I am grateful to be the first passenger in the vehicle thus getting a chance for the last…
Tazria-Metzora
This is a hard Parshah for me as, actually, most of the Parashot in Leviticus – Vayikra. I am going to bring you another commentary from a source that is not that well-known (I think). I subscribe to a newsletter by a Rabbi Ben Zion Spitz, the former Chief Rabbi of Uruguay. He brings an…
Yitro. Love. Fear. Awe.
This week, I am bringing you a Torah commentary on the Parshat Yitro, that of another teacher of mine, Alex Israel. You can read it here. I like his d’var because he always brings topics for discussion that you can ponder yourself over or argue about with your Shabbat guests. After all, that’s what we do,…
Vayeitzei וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב, מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע; וַיֵּלֶךְ, חָרָנָה
Today, again I am bringing you the D’var on Parshat Vayeitei from my colleague, Dr. Ackerman: “Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.” (Genesis 28:18) Parashat Vayeitzei describes Jacob’s…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Balak / בָּלָק
I love this Parshah! Almost until the very end of it, it talks about the beauty and strength of Israel, almost to the point of modern Anti-Semites saying that “Jews own everything”. Israelites’ flight from Egypt and miraculous things that happened to them in the desert instilled such fear in the neighbouring nations that they…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses – Korach / קֹרַח
This is a very hard Parshah. Honestly, aren’t most of them hard to digest? Here, we see that the fight for a better position, more privilege or higher standard of living is as old as time itself. Korach, a man of distinguished lineage and great knowledge orchestrates a revolt against Moshe and Aaron. When the…
Learning from my Daughters
When does a parent rejoice? When their children surpass their own abilities. As a mother, I know that there is nothing greater than understanding that some things you taught your children have been internalized and improved upon by them. I have two beautiful grown-up, and very much self-made daughters. Both of them saw me cooking and…
Throwback … Wednesday
There is a kind of social media tradition about a “throwback Thursday” when people are posting events/ pictures that remind them and others of the days gone by. But, I decided – why wait if something interesting brings you back to the best days of your life? This summer, as I said many times, of…
Noshing Across the Nation 