Weekly Sidra: Vayishlach (he sent)
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 32:4-36:43
Haftorah: Obadiah 1:1-1:21
One of the most interesting passages in this week’s portion is by Jacob wrestling with “a man” (32:25-32) “Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. 26 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he wrenched Jacob's hip at its socket, so that the socket of his hip was strained as he wrestled
Friday 30 November 2012
Learning Hebrew – The letter Hey (עִבְרִית)
He is often used to represent the name of God, as He stands for HaShem, which means The Name and is a way of saying God without actually saying the name of God. In print, HaShem is usually written as He with a geresh: ה׳.
HEY represents the number five. It appears twice in the sacred Name of God, deeming it a symbol of Divinity.
The letter HEY is comprised of the letters dalet and Yod. The vertical and horizontal lines of the dalet represent the physical world, while the
HEY represents the number five. It appears twice in the sacred Name of God, deeming it a symbol of Divinity.
The letter HEY is comprised of the letters dalet and Yod. The vertical and horizontal lines of the dalet represent the physical world, while the
Sunday 25 November 2012
Jewish wars?: Against All Odds (Video)
In 1974, Rabbi Asher Wade, a US Army chaplain, befriended a Jewish American officer named Stuart. Stuart did not strike him as being a religious man and so Rabbi Wade was surprised one day to see Stuart wearing a yarmulke (skullcap). Upon questioning Stuart's reasons for donning this unconventional attire, Stuart told Rabbi Wade the fascinating story behind it.
As part of their first year studies, cadets were enrolled in a course called "History of Military Tactics & Field
As part of their first year studies, cadets were enrolled in a course called "History of Military Tactics & Field
Friday 23 November 2012
All My Children – Sidra Vayetze
This week’s portion (29:32-30:24) lists the birth of all of Jacob’s sons except for Benjamin. His birth is recorded in next week’s portion (35:16-18) followed by the complete listing (35:23-26):
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve in number. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben — Jacob's first-born — Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali. 26 And the sons of
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve in number. 23 The sons of Leah: Reuben — Jacob's first-born — Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulon. 24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's maid: Dan and Naphtali. 26 And the sons of
Thursday 22 November 2012
Learning Hebrew – The letter Dalet (עִבְרִית)
Dalet is the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Dalet is also the number "Four". Dalet represents lowliness and the consciousness of possessing nothing of one's own. As a door Dalet also symbolically represents the choice to open ourselves to the hope of our dreams or to remain closed off and alienated. The corner point represents the concept of bitul or spiritual self-nullification. Practice of bitul leads to humility, the doorway to G-d's house, which is attained by the
Friday 16 November 2012
Learning Hebrew – The letter Gimel (עִבְרִית)
The third letter of the Lashon Hakodesh (Sacred alphabet) is the letter Gimel. If you observe its shape, you see that it is made by a letter Vav (ו) and a letter Yod (י). This encloses the mystery of the sound "ggh," which is guttural, meaning, in the throat. The sound of gimel is located at the level of the throat.
Gimel is generally pronounced like the “G” in “gap”, some dialects pronounce it differently in certain cases. Some Yemenite
Gimel is generally pronounced like the “G” in “gap”, some dialects pronounce it differently in certain cases. Some Yemenite
Thursday 15 November 2012
The Blessings of Isaac - Sidra Toledot
Weekly Sidra: Toledot (Generations)
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haftorah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7
This week we see a dilemma in the fact that Isaac loves Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Each twin wanted the blessing, but neither parent could agree as to who deserves to be blessed.
God reveals Himself to Isaac and blesses him-for Abraham his father had not formally blessed him-and God says (26:3-5) “I will be with you and bless
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haftorah: Malachi 1:1 - 2:7
This week we see a dilemma in the fact that Isaac loves Esau, but Rebecca loved Jacob. Each twin wanted the blessing, but neither parent could agree as to who deserves to be blessed.
God reveals Himself to Isaac and blesses him-for Abraham his father had not formally blessed him-and God says (26:3-5) “I will be with you and bless
Thursday 8 November 2012
Learning Hebrew – The letter Bet (עִבְרִית)
Bet, Beth, or Vet is the second letter of The Hebrew alphabet. Bet in gematria symbolizes the number 2. The letter Bet is actually the source of the Greek letter Beta, as you can see by the similarities in the two letters’ names. The English letter “B”, is therefore ultimately derived from Bet, as well.
The Hebrew letter represents two different phonemes: a "b" sound (‘b’) (bet) and a "v" sound (‘v’) (vet). The two are
The Hebrew letter represents two different phonemes: a "b" sound (‘b’) (bet) and a "v" sound (‘v’) (vet). The two are
Wednesday 7 November 2012
Mission Possible - Sidra Chayei Sara
Among the many events which take place in this week’s portion is that Abraham asks his servant to get a wife for Isaac from among his kin.
The Torah says: “and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac." (24: 3 & 4).
The length of chapter 24 has provoked many
The Torah says: “and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell, 4 but will go to the land of my birth and get a wife for my son Isaac." (24: 3 & 4).
The length of chapter 24 has provoked many
Monday 5 November 2012
Recite Before Watching A Movie
Leshem Yichud to Recite Before Watching A Movie
Please print and hang in your Shul and on your TV
I am herby willingly and readily preparing to bind myself to the Sita Acher. To give power and strengthen the klipot and the forces of evil that reside in the world, with the movie that I am about to watch. And may it be, that for the next two and a half hours I will unite myself totally and completely with the movie and bind myself to it in total concentration.
I am herby ready and
Please print and hang in your Shul and on your TV
I am herby willingly and readily preparing to bind myself to the Sita Acher. To give power and strengthen the klipot and the forces of evil that reside in the world, with the movie that I am about to watch. And may it be, that for the next two and a half hours I will unite myself totally and completely with the movie and bind myself to it in total concentration.
I am herby ready and
Sunday 4 November 2012
The Gate of Trust - Shaar Habitachon
Translator's Foreword
Introduction - benefits of trust
Chapter 1 - What is trust
Chapter 2 - The criteria for trusting someone
Chapter 3 - The factors which would obligate one to trust in G-d, and the obligation to engage in a livelihood.
Chapter 4 - When trust applies and when it does not
Chapter 5 - The difference between one who trusts in G-d in earning a livelihood and one who does not.
Chapter 6 - Obligation to refute those
Introduction - benefits of trust
Chapter 1 - What is trust
Chapter 2 - The criteria for trusting someone
Chapter 3 - The factors which would obligate one to trust in G-d, and the obligation to engage in a livelihood.
Chapter 4 - When trust applies and when it does not
Chapter 5 - The difference between one who trusts in G-d in earning a livelihood and one who does not.
Chapter 6 - Obligation to refute those
Maaser (Tithing), Emuna (Faith), Bitachon (Trust)
Maaser a question of Emuna and Bitachon. Definitions: Maaser (Tithing) a question of Emuna (Faith), and Bitachon (Trust).
Maaser means “a tenth.” It’s based on the Hebrew word eser or ten. As a rule, it refers to donating ten percent of whatever to whomever. While maaser may seem like a lot of giving, it’s actually all about receiving. Just like sacrifices, which primarily benefit those who bring them, giving maaser whips you into spiritual shape by forcing you
Maaser means “a tenth.” It’s based on the Hebrew word eser or ten. As a rule, it refers to donating ten percent of whatever to whomever. While maaser may seem like a lot of giving, it’s actually all about receiving. Just like sacrifices, which primarily benefit those who bring them, giving maaser whips you into spiritual shape by forcing you
Friday 2 November 2012
The Binding of Isaac - Sidra Vayera
Weekly Sidra: VaYera / And he appeared
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haftorah: Melachim Bet / Kings II 4:1-4:23
Abraham faced many hard times; this week’s portion deals with one of the most difficult trials the binding of Isaac.
Maimonides or the Rambam in (Guide to the Perplexed 3, 24) is very concerned about divine trials especially the binding of Isaac. He is focussed on two features which highlight the purpose of this trial. First, he states
Torah Portion: Bereshit / Genesis 18:1-22:24
Haftorah: Melachim Bet / Kings II 4:1-4:23
Abraham faced many hard times; this week’s portion deals with one of the most difficult trials the binding of Isaac.
Maimonides or the Rambam in (Guide to the Perplexed 3, 24) is very concerned about divine trials especially the binding of Isaac. He is focussed on two features which highlight the purpose of this trial. First, he states
Learning Hebrew – The letter Alef (עִבְרִית)
The letter Alef is the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet and therefore it is a natural place to start if you are interested in learning the Hebrew language. The letter Alef is actually the source of the Greek letter Alpha, as you can see by the similarities in the two letters’ names, and the English letter “A”, is therefore ultimately derived from Alef, as well. The letter Alef is one of the most important and noteworthy letters in the Hebrew alphabet for a number of
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