Ahead of the new year 5784 we wish the members and friends of Adass Yisroel Berlin all the very best, a happy new year and chatima tova. - Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld Shelita
Today
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Nitzavim We will read this week Parshat Nitzavim. This Parsha is always being read at the last Shabbat of the year. I have noticed an unusual repetition of one particular word, in both - last week's Parsha, (Ki Tavo) and this week's - Nitzavim. The word "Today". It appears in different contexts more than in any Parshiot in the whole Torah. There must be a reason! …
Full Jewish life – but how?
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Ki Tavó We will read this week ((Devarim 30, 11-12) כִּ֚י הַמִּצְוָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את אֲשֶׁ֛ר אָנֹכִ֥י מְצַוְּךָ֖ הַיּ֑וֹם לֹא־נִפְלֵ֥את הִוא֙ מִמְּךָ֔ וְלֹ֥א רְחֹקָ֖ה הִֽוא׃ Surely, this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. לֹ֥א בַשָּׁמַ֖יִם הִ֑וא לֵאמֹ֗ר מִ֣י יַעֲלֶה־לָּ֤נוּ הַשָּׁמַ֙יְמָה֙ וְיִקָּחֶ֣הָ לָּ֔נוּ וְיַשְׁמִעֵ֥נוּ אֹתָ֖הּ וְנַעֲשֶֽׂנָּה׃ It …
Thoughts (be)for(e) Tishaa BeAv
On the eve of Tisha BeAv it is appropriate to remember the Gemara explaining the circumstances leading to the destruction and the long exile. We learn in (Tractate) Yoma (9,2): אֲבָל מִקְדָּשׁ שֵׁנִי שֶׁהָיוּ עוֹסְקִין בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת וּגְמִילוּת חֲסָדִים, מִפְּנֵי מָה חָרַב? מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהָיְתָה בּוֹ שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם. לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁשְּׁקוּלָה שִׂנְאַת חִנָּם כְּנֶגֶד שָׁלֹשׁ עֲבֵירוֹת: …
Living higher…
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Matot-Massaei At the middle of Parshat Matot, we read this week how the tribes of Reuben and Gad (later joined by half of the tribe of Manasseh) asked for the lands east of the Jordan as their portion in the Promised Land, these being prime pastureland for their cattle. Moshe Rabeinu is initially angered …
Responding to (fair) complaints… Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Pinchas
Three complaints of Unfairness - two were accepted by G-d and one, totally dismissed, and the complainants punished! This week we will read about : וַתִּקְרַ֜בְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלׇפְחָ֗ד בֶּן־חֵ֤פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה נֹעָ֔ה וְחׇגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ The daughters of Zelophehad, of Manassite family—son of Hepher son of Gilead son …
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Two events… 17th Tamuz
Last week was the 17th of Tamuz - a day of fasting, commemorating, amongst other things, Moshe Rabeinu breaking the tablets (Aseret Hadibrot). As such, I find any event connecting us to learning Torah, very appropriately scheduled. 1. In London I participated and spoke at the end of Siyum in "Side by Side" school, a special needs school and integrated nursery which provides a unique educational environment. An …
Silver lining – or turnaround
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Chukat Balak For fluent Hebrew readers, this week's Parsha is a celebration of a beautiful factual description of Am Yisrael, coupled with the most far reaching benediction by none other than Balaam, an old anti-Semite. As we read through the Parsha, it is quite clear that the magnificent blessings are not really Balaam's own ideas, but that he was compelled by G-d to deliver …
Korach…
Shabbat Parashat Korach This week's parsha demonstrates how even (some) people of high intellect and good standing are very often not happy with their own status, only because others have made it higher... In this context, I cherish the following story: The famous Rabbi Yonatan Eybeschütz who was the Dayan, a rabbinical judgein Hamburg-Altona some 250 years ago, once had a local butcher coming to his chambers, asking the Rav to …
Being subjective…
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Shlach Lecha We will read this week about the extraordinary story of the scouts (or spies) who were sent to explore the Land of Israel prior to what should have been the first "Aliah" of the whole nation We read at the beginning of the Parasha : (Chapter 13) וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח אֹתָ֥ם מֹשֶׁ֛ה …