Jewish Congregation Adass Yisroel, Berlin (Public Corporation)
The current weather has brought the following story to my heat-affected mind... There is a well-known rabbinical story attributed to Rav Chaim Soloveitchik זצ"ל. Whenever corrupt Russian government officials threatened to close the Yeshivah, community activists resorted to the old method of bribing them in order to prevent the closure. This time, however, a new …
Continue reading "It Will Snow Tomorrow… Shabbat Kodesh – Parashat Chukat–Balak"
We read: “G-D spoke to Moses, saying: Send, if you wish, men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Children of Israel; send one man from each tribe of his fathers, every one a prince among them.” וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ שְׁלַח־לְךָ֣ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְיָתֻ֨רוּ֙ אֶת־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֥י נֹתֵ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י …
Continue reading "Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Shelach Lecha: The “Good” Punishment …"
G-D spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand.” וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר ה׳ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה הֶעֱלָ֖ה נֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה …
We find an interesting debate in the Talmud regarding Jewish festivals in general. How should a person divide the day? Should it be devoted entirely to G’d through learning and prayer, or should part of it be dedicated to natural human needs and, yes, physical enjoyment as well? Yet regarding Shavuot specifically, everyone agrees that …
We read the following verses: “You shall observe My laws and faithfully keep My rules, so that you may live securely on the land.” וַעֲשִׂיתֶם֙ אֶת־חֻקֹּתַ֔י וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֥י תִּשְׁמְר֖וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֣ם אֹתָ֑ם וִֽישַׁבְתֶּ֥ם עַל־הָאָ֖רֶץ לָבֶֽטַח׃ (Vayikra 25:18) “The land shall yield its fruit, you shall eat your fill, and you shall live upon it in security.” וְנָתְנָ֤ה …
Continue reading "Security – Shabbat Kodesh Behar–Bechukotai"
Our Parasha begins with a command:“Moses convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that G-d has commanded you to do.” וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶת־כׇּל־עֲדַ֛ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אֵ֚לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה ה׳ לַעֲשֹׂ֥ת אֹתָֽם׃(Shemot 35:1) He then continues by explaining that Shabbat must be kept as a complete day of …
Continue reading "Making the Shabbat… Parashat Vayakhel–Pekudei"
The idea that a person can genuinely experience “mixed” feelings is relatively new.Well into the 20th century, many psychologists believed that positive and negative emotions existed only sequentially. Researchers assumed that one could not feel good and bad at the same time. Even today, people often speak about happiness and unhappiness in this way—as if …
Continue reading "Jethro, the man who discovered “mixed feelings”… Shabbat Kodesh – Parashat Yitro"
There are numerous references to Pharaoh’s heart in this week’s Shabbat reading. G’d said to Moshe: “Come to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, in order that I may place these signs of Mine in his midst.” בֹּא אֶל־פַּרְעֹה כִּֽי־אֲנִי הִכְבַּדְתִּי אֶת־לִבּוֹ וְאֶת־לֵב עֲבָדָיו לְמַעַן שִׁתִי אֹתֹתַי אֵלֶּה …
Continue reading "Hearts vs. Mind … Shabbat Kodesh – Parashat Bo"
When we study this Parsha's conversation in which G’d is urging Moshe Rabeinu to accept the role of leadership, it is astonishing to observe how Moshe Rabeinu uses multiple arguments in his attempt to avoid the mission. At first he reasons with G’d that Bnei Yisrael will ask him "who is the G’d who has …
Continue reading "The Subconscious reason – Parashat Shemot"
The first one happened roughly 180 years ago - the second one, yesterday... First story : Rebbe Moshe Leib of Sassov used to tell his chassidim that he learned what it means to love a fellow from two Russian peasants. Once he came to an inn, where two thoroughly drunk Russian peasants were sitting at …