Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Bereishit "In Memory of Rosa Parks, who taught us the courage requisite for new beginnings" AND THE LORD SAID: LET THERE BE LIGHT – AND THERE WAS LIGHT "And the Lord saw that the light was good, and the Lord divided between the light and the dark" Bereishit – For The Sake of Reishit , For the Sake of Torah, For the Sake of Israel, For the Sake of Light, for the Sake of Peace Bereishit Barah – "In the beginning the Lord...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Simhat Tora "Rejoice and Be Happy on Simchat Torah" – On the Difference Between Joy (Sasson) and Happiness (Simcha) Simcha is present on the occasion of the beginning or the renewal of something which makes man happy; sasson is present when that something reaches positive completion, as per "Happy in their going out, and rejoicing upon arrival" – when they go out to shed light upon the earth, they are happy; when they reach the west, having completed their beneficial activity, they...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Sukkot MARK, ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE SEVENTH MONTH, WHEN YOU HAVE GATHERED IN THE YIELD OF YOUR LAND, YOU SHALL OBSERVE THE FESTIVAL OF THE LORD SEVEN DAYS: A COMPLETE REST ON THE FIRST DAY, AND A COMPLETE REST ON THE EIGHTH DAY. ON THE FIRST DAY YOU SHALL TAKE THE PRODUCT OF THE HADAR TREES, BRANCHES OF PALM TREES, BOUGHS OF LEAFY TREES, AND WILLOWS OF THE BROOK, AND YOU SHALL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD SEVEN DAYS. (Vayikra 23:39) On Rejoicing...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Ha'azinu SEE, THEN, THAT I, I AM HE; THERE IS NO GOD BESIDE ME. I DEAL DEATH AND GIVE LIFE; I WOUNDED AND I WILL HEAL; NONE CAN DELIVER FROM MY HAND. (Devarim 32;39) I Deal Death And Give Life – Only He Who Can Give Life Is Permitted To Kill Said The Holy One, Blessed Be He, to Moshe: "Moshe, son of whom are you?" He replied: "Son of Amram." "And Amram is the son of whom?" He replied: "Son of Kehat." Said...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Rosh Hashana Remember us for life, O King who delightest in life; Inscribe us in the book of life for thy sake, O living God. FATEFUL HOURS ARE NOT FIT FOR SONG, THEY ARE APPROPRIATE FOR INTROSPECTION The Book of Life is the heavens, and there all future decrees are inscribed on the day of their creation. (Ibn Ezra, Psalms, 69:29) "The court sat, and books were opened" (Daniel 7:10). He does not need a book, for He knows thoughts yet unthought, but this...