In this week’s parsha we are introduced to the most central figure in all of Jewish history - even in all civilized history, our teacher Moshe. The Torah, as is its wont, does not tell us many details about the life of Moshe from the time he was just past twenty years of age, fleeing from Pharaoh’s wrath at his killing of an Egyptian taskmaster, until his reemergence as the leader of the... READ MORE →
Having just been privileged to attend and participate at the wedding of a granddaughter in the United States my thoughts naturally wander to contemplate the future of my generations. One thing is certain – they will live in a far different world than the one that I lived in. When I grew up in Chicago in the early-middle part of the last century, European Jewry was being destroyed and Orthodox... READ MORE →
The holy book of Bereshith comes to its conclusion in this week’s parsha. The story of the creation of the Jewish people through the development of one family over a number of generations and by the perseverance of the great personalities of our patriarchs and matriarchs is now complete. This raises the question originally posed in Rashi’s commentary to the very beginning of the book of... READ MORE →
ספר בראשית מגיע לסיומו בפרשת השבוע. הסיפור של בריאת העולם ושל התפתחות העם היהודי ממשפחה אחת לאורך כמה דורות עם התמדה ועקשנות של האבות והאמהות הגדולים שלנו, מגיע כעת לסיומו. זה מעלה שוב את השאלה שמציג רש"י בפירושו... READ MORE →
לאחר שנפלה בחלקי לא מכבר הזכות להשתתף בחתונה של נכדתי בארצות הברית, מחשבותיי נדדו, מטבע הדברים, אל העתיד של הדורות הבאים. דבר אחד בטוח: הם יחיו בעולם שונה מאוד מזה שאני חייתי בו. כשאני גדלתי בשיקגו בחצי הראשון של... READ MORE →
Individuals, societies and nations are always pursuing the elusive goal of self-definition. God’s question to Adam “Where are you?” can easily be interpreted as also being the question of “Who are you?” The search for our true inner self is the single most complicated and psychologically difficult pursuit of the human soul. Many people unfortunately define themselves only in terms of... READ MORE →
The apparent hero and victor in the epic narrative of the saga of Yosef and his brothers that reaches its culmination in this week’s parsha is certainly Yosef. His dreams and ambitions are fulfilled. His brothers and father have bowed down before him as the prophecy of his dreams indicated. He takes no further revenge against his brothers. He houses them and Yaakov in security and prosperity... READ MORE →
ברור שהגיבור והמנצח של האפוס על יוסף ואחיו שמגיע לשיאו בפרשת השבוע הוא יוסף. החלומות והשאיפות שלו התגשמו. אחיו ואביו השתחוו לפניו כפי שהתנבא בחלומותיו. יוסף איננו נוקם באחיו עוד אלא משכן אותם ואת יעקב אביו בארץ גושן... READ MORE →
אנשים, חברות ועמים תמיד נמצאים במרדף אחרי אותה מטרה חמקמקה של הגדרה עצמית. השאלה של הקב"ה לאדם הראשון "איכּה?" יכולה בקלות להתפרש כשאלה ששואלת "מי אתה?". החיפוש אחר האני הפנימי האמיתי הוא החיפוש הכי מסובך וקשה מבחינה... READ MORE →
The main point in this week's parsha is that Yosef recognizes his brothers while they don't recognize him. The obvious reason for this is that Yosef, pursuing the fulfillment of his heavenly dreams, is looking for his brothers, while they, the brothers themselves, are not partners with Yosef in the dreams and therefore they cannot imagine that they are bowing before Yosef. There are dreams... READ MORE →
