In this week’s parsha, Vayishalach, Jacob is on his way to meet Esau. Jacob is scared that Esau will want to kill him for stealing his birthright, so Jacob splits his camp in two to keep them safer. On his way, Jacob wrestles with an angel who, upon realizing that Jacob is winning, strains Jacob’s thigh. The angel gives Jacob a new name, Israel. The angel blesses Jacob and then leaves.
When Jacob meets Esau, they embrace, and all is forgiven. The two brothers separate and they go off to continue their lives, coming together again to bury Isaac, their father, who dies at 180.
Friday, December 13, 2019
Friday, December 6, 2019
D'var for Vayeitei
Sorry I forgot to do last week (Toldot) while on Thanksgiving break! Woops!
Anyway, here’s this week’s d’var:
In this week’s parsha, Vayeitzei, Jacob is on the run after having stolen his brother’s blessing. He slept on a stone for a pillow and dreamed of angels going up and down a ladder to heaven. They told him that the land where he slept would be where his descendants will live. Jacob awoke and named the place Bethel. Jacob then met Rachel, (who I think was his cousin-once-removed or something) her father Laban. Jacob loves Rachel, so Jacob promises to work for seven years for Laban in exchange for marriage to her. However, Laban tricks Jacob and has him marry Rachel’s older sister, Leah. Laban explains that the custom in the area is to marry the older daughter before the younger one, so he had no other choice. Jacob agrees to work for Laban another seven years in exchange for marrying Rachel in addition to Leah. Jacob marries a few other women and has a bunch of children.
After Jacob has finished his work for Laban, God says that God has not left Jacob and God tells him to go back to the land of his fathers. Jacob does so secretly, taking his family, servants, and possessions (and some of Laban’s possessions) with him while Laban is out working. Rachel also takes some of her father’s idols. Laban follows them, but only wants to say goodbye. However, he wanted to know who stole his idols. He was unable to find them, and he makes a covenant with Jacob. Laban says goodbye and leaves.
Anyway, here’s this week’s d’var:
In this week’s parsha, Vayeitzei, Jacob is on the run after having stolen his brother’s blessing. He slept on a stone for a pillow and dreamed of angels going up and down a ladder to heaven. They told him that the land where he slept would be where his descendants will live. Jacob awoke and named the place Bethel. Jacob then met Rachel, (who I think was his cousin-once-removed or something) her father Laban. Jacob loves Rachel, so Jacob promises to work for seven years for Laban in exchange for marriage to her. However, Laban tricks Jacob and has him marry Rachel’s older sister, Leah. Laban explains that the custom in the area is to marry the older daughter before the younger one, so he had no other choice. Jacob agrees to work for Laban another seven years in exchange for marrying Rachel in addition to Leah. Jacob marries a few other women and has a bunch of children.
After Jacob has finished his work for Laban, God says that God has not left Jacob and God tells him to go back to the land of his fathers. Jacob does so secretly, taking his family, servants, and possessions (and some of Laban’s possessions) with him while Laban is out working. Rachel also takes some of her father’s idols. Laban follows them, but only wants to say goodbye. However, he wanted to know who stole his idols. He was unable to find them, and he makes a covenant with Jacob. Laban says goodbye and leaves.
Friday, November 22, 2019
D'var for Chayei Sarah
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Sarah dies, and Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah, where he buries her. Abraham sends Eliezer, his servant, to find a wife for Isaac in the city of Nahor. Eliezer goes there with Abraham’s camels and bounty. He finds Rebekah, the daughter of Abraham’s nephew. He offers her gifts from Abraham, including a nose ring. Eliezer is hosted by Lavan, Rebekah’s father, and he tells them of his story and the story of Abraham. Rebekah agreed to go back to Abraham with Eliezer. She meets Isaac, and they fall in love.
After having a few more kids, Abraham dies, and is buried alongside Sarah in the cave of Machpelah by Isaac and Ishmael. Other biblical figures are eventually buried there as well.
After having a few more kids, Abraham dies, and is buried alongside Sarah in the cave of Machpelah by Isaac and Ishmael. Other biblical figures are eventually buried there as well.
Friday, November 15, 2019
D'var for Vayera
In this week’s parsha, Three strangers arrive at Abraham and Sarah’s tent, and Abraham welcomes them, provides food for them, and washes their feet. When one of the strangers tells Abraham that they will return in a year, and when they do so, Sarah will have a son. Upon hearing this, Sarah laughs, with both her and Abraham being as old as they are. God asks Abraham why she laughed, as there is nothing that God can’t do.
The next famous story in this Parsha is the story of Sodom and Gamorah, two very sinful cities that God intended to destroy. When God told Abraham what God was about to do, Abraham argued with God, asking if God would destroy the cities if there were innocent people there. God said that God would not destroy the cities if there were 50 good people living there. Abraham continues asking until the number decreased to ten good people, and God still backs off.
Abraham’s nephew Lot seemed to be the only good person in Sodom, so God sent angels to tell him and his family to leave, as God was about to destroy the city. They are told not to look back, but Lot’s wife does, and she turns into a pillar of salt.
Sarah gives birth to a son when Abraham is 100 years old. The son’s name is Isaac, which means “will laugh.” Sarah wanted Abraham’s line to continue through Isaac and not Ishmael. So, she told Abraham that she wanted to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham had to oblige, and sent Hagar and Ishmael out to die in the desert. An angel opened Hagar’s eyes to a well of water, and God helped her and Ishmael live on, and become a great nation of their own.
The next famous story in this parsha is that of the Akayda, the sacrificing of Isaac. God tells Abraham to go to Mount Moriah, where he will sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham goes with Isaac and two servants. Abraham tells the servants that he and Isaac will go up the mountain to pray, and will return. Isaac asks Abraham where the sheep is for the sacrifice that they will make. Abraham says that God will provide the sheep. He lays Isaac on the altar, and is about to kill him when God sends an angel to stop him, and a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
There is no question that the sacrifice of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gamora are instances of God testing Abraham, however they seem to contradict each other. The story of Sodom and Gamora shows Abraham arguing with God, while the story of the Akayda shows Abraham blindly obeying God. We can actually learn two very important lessons from these stories about the role of Judaism. From the story of the Akaydah, despite how horrible it sounds, we can learn to trust that eventually, everything will be alright. After all, Abraham knew that God wouldn’t really want him to kill his only son through whom a people as numerous as the stars in the sky would begin. From the story of Sodom and Gamorah we can learn to notice injustice in the world and try our hardest to do something about it.
The next famous story in this Parsha is the story of Sodom and Gamorah, two very sinful cities that God intended to destroy. When God told Abraham what God was about to do, Abraham argued with God, asking if God would destroy the cities if there were innocent people there. God said that God would not destroy the cities if there were 50 good people living there. Abraham continues asking until the number decreased to ten good people, and God still backs off.
Abraham’s nephew Lot seemed to be the only good person in Sodom, so God sent angels to tell him and his family to leave, as God was about to destroy the city. They are told not to look back, but Lot’s wife does, and she turns into a pillar of salt.
Sarah gives birth to a son when Abraham is 100 years old. The son’s name is Isaac, which means “will laugh.” Sarah wanted Abraham’s line to continue through Isaac and not Ishmael. So, she told Abraham that she wanted to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham had to oblige, and sent Hagar and Ishmael out to die in the desert. An angel opened Hagar’s eyes to a well of water, and God helped her and Ishmael live on, and become a great nation of their own.
The next famous story in this parsha is that of the Akayda, the sacrificing of Isaac. God tells Abraham to go to Mount Moriah, where he will sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham goes with Isaac and two servants. Abraham tells the servants that he and Isaac will go up the mountain to pray, and will return. Isaac asks Abraham where the sheep is for the sacrifice that they will make. Abraham says that God will provide the sheep. He lays Isaac on the altar, and is about to kill him when God sends an angel to stop him, and a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
There is no question that the sacrifice of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gamora are instances of God testing Abraham, however they seem to contradict each other. The story of Sodom and Gamora shows Abraham arguing with God, while the story of the Akayda shows Abraham blindly obeying God. We can actually learn two very important lessons from these stories about the role of Judaism. From the story of the Akaydah, despite how horrible it sounds, we can learn to trust that eventually, everything will be alright. After all, Abraham knew that God wouldn’t really want him to kill his only son through whom a people as numerous as the stars in the sky would begin. From the story of Sodom and Gamorah we can learn to notice injustice in the world and try our hardest to do something about it.
Friday, November 8, 2019
D'var for Lech Lecha
In this week’s parsha, Judaism is born. God tells Avram and Sarai, “Lech Lecha,” or “go forth” from the land that they have known all of their lives, to a land that God will show them. If they do so, God will make them into a great nation as numerous as the stars in the sky. They arrive in Canaan, but almost immediately a famine arises, and they go to Egypt for food, and Abrah has to convince the Pharaoh that Sarai is his sister in to save his own life, as the Pharaoh is so entranced by Sarai’s beauty that he wants to marry her. Eventually, the Pharaoh finds out and sends them off with many gifts. A few other wacky adventures occur, and Avram and Sarai end up back in Canaan.
Seemingly in contrast to what God is telling them about the nation that their descendants will become, Avram and Sarai are old, and despite their best attempts, childless. Sarai tells Avram to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. He does, but Sarai soon becomes jealous, and treats Hagar harshly, so Hagar runs away. When it seems that Hagar is likely to die in the wilderness, God sends an angel to instruct her to return to Avram and Sarai so that her child, who will be named Ishamel, will be born. Hagar does so. The sudden uprooting of the protagonists at the beginning of this parsha is accompanied by a change in their names as well, Avram to Abraham (father of multitudes), and Sarai to Sarah (princess).
Seemingly in contrast to what God is telling them about the nation that their descendants will become, Avram and Sarai are old, and despite their best attempts, childless. Sarai tells Avram to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. He does, but Sarai soon becomes jealous, and treats Hagar harshly, so Hagar runs away. When it seems that Hagar is likely to die in the wilderness, God sends an angel to instruct her to return to Avram and Sarai so that her child, who will be named Ishamel, will be born. Hagar does so. The sudden uprooting of the protagonists at the beginning of this parsha is accompanied by a change in their names as well, Avram to Abraham (father of multitudes), and Sarai to Sarah (princess).
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
D'var for Noach
In this week's parsha, Noach, God tells Noah to build an ark for him, his family, and two of every kind of animal (technically he brought seven of the "clean"/kosher animals) so that they would not die in the flood that God was going to bring to wipe out the wicked world that he had created. They stay in the ark for forty days and forty nights, until the rain finally stops and the ark comes to rest on top of Mount Ararat.
To determine if the world is safe, Noah first sends out a Raven, who comes back without anything, not having found a single dry place it can stand. Noah waits a week, and then sends out a dove, who returns with an olive branch. Noah sends out another dove who does not return at all, letting those in the ark know that the world is safe.
God creates a rainbow in the sky. God tells Noah that it is a symbol of God keeping the promise that God will never destroy the world again. There is a tradition to, when we see a rainbow, say the blessing: Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise," which originates from this story.
At the beginning, the parsha has a gloomy, end-of-the world connotation, but it can also be read as a message of hope for the future, that even though things are bad now, they don't always have to be. The rainbow represents that hope, however because God has promised not to destroy the world in such a fashion again, we can harness that hope and use it to help God repair the world through Tikun Olam.
To determine if the world is safe, Noah first sends out a Raven, who comes back without anything, not having found a single dry place it can stand. Noah waits a week, and then sends out a dove, who returns with an olive branch. Noah sends out another dove who does not return at all, letting those in the ark know that the world is safe.
God creates a rainbow in the sky. God tells Noah that it is a symbol of God keeping the promise that God will never destroy the world again. There is a tradition to, when we see a rainbow, say the blessing: Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise," which originates from this story.
At the beginning, the parsha has a gloomy, end-of-the world connotation, but it can also be read as a message of hope for the future, that even though things are bad now, they don't always have to be. The rainbow represents that hope, however because God has promised not to destroy the world in such a fashion again, we can harness that hope and use it to help God repair the world through Tikun Olam.
Friday, October 25, 2019
D'var for Breishit
This week's parsha is Breishit, which is the first parsha in the Torah. G-d creates the world in seven days. On the first day, G-d separates light and darkness. G-d continues to separate heavens and the earth on the second day, and then land and water on the third day. On the fourth day, G-d creates the sun, the moon and the stars, and then on the fifth day, G-d creates the animals on the land, sky, and sea. On the sixth day, G-d creates humankind in G-d's image. On the seventh day, rests and creates Shabbat. The parsha then tells the story of Adam and Eve as they are expelled from the Garden of Eden, the story of Cain and Abel and the first murder, and continues for the ten generations until the time of Noah.
Friday, March 8, 2019
Pekudei davar
In the parsah Pekudei there is a lot of talk about what persists and high priests are supposed to wear and how their garments are supposed to be fabricated. God tell Moses Specific instructions on how to do these tasks.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
sato post
Hi everyone! With 2019 right here I want to highlight one specific foundation as my Charity of 2018: Feeding America. this organization raised over 2.7 billion dollars in 2018 for hunger relief. That is the most money raised for hunger relief in the US. They also maintained a 99% fundraising efficiency. This means that 99% of the donations they received went towards directly fighting hunger in the United States. I highly suggest that you all do some research and pick your own charity or charities of the year and make it part of your 2019 new years resolutions to support them. Happy New Year everyone!!!
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