Tag: Torah sparks by Rabbi Schell
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Parashat Vayeshev : Was it God’s plan?
Ellen Frankel (Author of “The Five Books of Miriam”) askes the following, thought-provoking question: “Why doesn’t Joseph tell his dreams to the women of the family? Why does he tell his two dreams – of his brothers’ sheaves bowing down to his sheaf and of the sun, moon and 11 stars bowing to him –…
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Parashat Vayishlach: Taking Jacob-Israel as a paradigm
In parshat Vayishlach Jacob’s name is changed to Israel, not once but twice. The first time, in 32:29, Jacob is named by a “man” after spending all night wrestling with him. In 35:10 Jacob receives the name Israel directly from God. According to Rashi, the name change signifies a change in Jacob’s character. He moves…
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Parashat Vayetzei: If you give me – then I promise to go to synagogue every Shabbat
A joke is told about the New York man driving around desperately seeking a parking place. He can’t find one, and so in desperation, he says, “Oh God I pray that you give me a parking space, if you give me a parking space then I promise to go to synagogue every Shabbat, I promise…
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ParashatToldot: Isaac represents the ideal – the messianic world
This week’s Torah portion begins with the phrase, V’eileh toldot Yitzchak ben Avraham, “This is the line of Isaac son of Abraham” (Genesis 25:19), indicating that the text is now going to focus on Isaac, the second of the Patriarchs of our tradition.And, indeed, he figures prominently in the stories of this portion. However, he…
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Parashat Chayei Sarah: Honouring our matriarchs
Have you noticed how “matriarchal” Genesis is? It is true that the “founders” of Judaism are the three patriarchs – three men – but it was their mothers and not their fathers who determined who carried the mantle. Abraham had two sons. Did his firstborn, Ishmael, become the standard-bearer of the new faith? No, Sarah’s…
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Parashat Vayera: Say no, and stand for it!
Our parashah for this Shabbat continues with report of Abraham’s and Sarah’s journey. Both welcome the three unknown visitors and learn from them that Sarah will soon bear a son, despite of her old age. As the visitors had predicted, Sarah bears her son whom she names Isaac. The narrative then focuses on the lives…
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Parashat Noach: He was a righteous man
Have you asked yourself how life would be for you if you were born into a different time? Somewhere in the past or in the future? Would you be a different person? In this week’s Torah portion, as we read about Noach, we’re introduced to him as an “ish tzaddik tamim hayah bedorotav. He was…
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Sukkot and Simchat Torah
“You shall live in Sukkot seven days; all citizens of Israel shall live in Sukkot, in order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in Sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 23:42-43) SUKKOT: Sukkot is a harvest festival, but it is also a holiday…
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Yom Kippur and Sukkot are closely linked by the Book of Jonah
Our Jewish tradition says that immediately at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, one should occupy oneself with the mitzvah of building the sukkah. Typically, one engages in a symbolic act of sukkah building as a way of showing one’s enthusiasm to participate in this special mitzvah. Yet, the sukkah serves as far more than the…
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Parashat Nitzavim and Rosh HaShanah
„I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, so that you may live, you and your children.” – Deuteronomy 30:19One of the most profound statements in the Torah is found near the beginning of this…
