Jewish Congregation Adass Yisroel, Berlin (Public Corporation)
We will read this week how Yaakov Avinu describes the characteristics of each one of his children, and then gives them his final blessings. As he relates to Yehuda, Yaakov says: חַכְלִילִ֥י עֵינַ֖יִם מִיָּ֑יִן וּלְבֶן־שִׁנַּ֖יִם מֵחָלָֽב׃ His eyes are darker than wine; His teeth are whiter than milk. The simple way to read it is that it is …
Continue reading "“The smile…” – Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Vayechi"
As the Catholic world mourns the death of the former Pope Benedict I remind myself of the following story: A short time after my father Rabbi Pinchas ZT"L came to Munich, the Jewish Congregation made a reception for the general local community - to meet and greet the new Rabbi. Unbeknown to my father - the guests included also some politicians, …
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Vayigash Yosef ordered his chariot and went to Goshen to meet his father Yisrael; he presented himself to him and, embracing him around the neck, he wept on his neck for a good while. Then YIsrael said to Yosef, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רַ֛ב עוֹד־יוֹסֵ֥ף בְּנִ֖י חָ֑י אֵֽלְכָ֥ה וְאֶרְאֶ֖נּוּ בְּטֶ֥רֶם אָמֽוּת׃ “Now I can …
Shabbat Chanukah - Parashat Miketz "The Light of War and the Light of Peace There is a law about Chanukah I find moving and profound. Maimonides writes that ‘the command of Chanukah lights is very precious. One who lacks the money to buy lights should sell something, so as to be able to fulfil the mitzvah.’ The question …
Continue reading "Priority of Shabbat candles over Chanukah Light"
It burned for eight days. So what? When we light the candles during Chanukah, we do so in order to commemorate the miracle of the small "one day '' pure oil canister, lighting the Menorah in the Beit Hamikdash for eight days. That's great. But frankly, it does not seem to be such an important matter. (Halachic, they were allowed …
Speech text on the award ceremony for 3rd place for Building of the Year 2021, held by the Federal Chairman Tilo Bergmann on 8 December 2022 First of all, I would like to express my pleasure at the invitation and the joint celebration of this ceremony for the facade reconstruction of Tucholsky Strasse 40. Here and today …
Continue reading "Award ceremony in the community centre Adass Yisroel"
Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Vayishlach The Torah relates that upon hearing that Eisav was coming toward him with 400 men, Yaakov became very frightened and it distressed him. Rashi explains that the double expression regarding Yaakov's fear teaches that he was afraid both that he may be killed and that he may kill others should Eisav attack him. It is natural …
Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Vayetze Our sages describe Yaakov Avinu as the "Choicest of the Patriarchs". His twelve children all remained "within the family". This, in contrast to Avraham Avinu, who had a son Yishmael, and Yitzchak, whose son Esav did not continue the family tradition in the way his parents wished for. The question is, what did Yaakov do …
Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Chayei Sara Eliezer comes to Haran to find a suitable Shidduch (marriage matchmaking) for Yizchak. His mission seems to go (literally) miraculously well, as we read in this week's Parsha. It goes exactly as he wished. He prayed for the right girl to show up, to offer drinks to him and his …
Shabbat Koshe Parshat Wajerá וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ “G-d appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot”. וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים נִצָּבִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיַּ֗רְא וַיָּ֤רׇץ לִקְרָאתָם֙ מִפֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרְצָה׃ “Looking up, …
Continue reading "Hosting guests, greater than seeing the Shechina… the presence of G-d?"