Month: October 2019
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Pekudei: It’s Always Darkest Before The Dawn (March 9, 2019)
Yesterday in synagogue we read –Exodus 38:21 – 40:38 –Kings I 7:51 – 8:21. The census, the Holy Tabernacle, and the Shechina (God’s presence). The real Biblical census involves community members who 1) meet age criteria (20+) & 2) are counted by contribution. Exodus 38:26: “One bekka per head…half a shekel according to the holy…
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Mishpatim: There’s No Escaping Due Process (February 3, 2019)
The Bible here is presenting the concept of slavery within a framework of law. This is important, because the Biblical approach to jurisprudence stands in stark contrast to the modern tendency toward rule-by-hysterically-offended-mob. Here is a classic example: “A new video shows a student at Yale University screaming at one of the school’s professors for…
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Vayechi: Witchcraft Will Fail (December 23, 2018)
There is only God. ANY and ALL attempts at “Egypt” [witchcraft, sorcery, magick, spells, drumming, occult rituals and hive chanting and channeling] are useless against His supreme power. The reading is Genesis 47:28–50:26. Supplemental reading is I Kings 2:1-12. he patriarch Jacob (renamed Israel) is about to pass away. He has lived 17 years in…
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Vayigash: When Are Your Friends Not Your Friends? (December 16, 2018)
This portion is the story of the Jews’ descent into Egypt, thru a friendly pharoah. In this week’s Bible portion “G‑d appeared to him (Jacob) and told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt, because He would be with him & eventually turn his small family into a great nation; then He would…
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“Vayishlach: Repair to Prepare,” November 24, 2018
Vashishlach (“and he sent”) – Genesis 32:4 – 36:43; Obadiah 1:1-21 LESSON 1 A lesson from the Rebbe. p. 36 – Jacob has to get ready for battle with his idol-worshiping warrior brother, Esau (foreshadowing current war) Jacob has to do three things: give gifts to appease; pray; and actually fight. (This is the Lubavitcher…
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Toldos: Is Coexistence Possible? (November 10, 2018)
Torah portion: Toldos (Tellings)Genesis 25:19-28:9Supplemental reading: Malachi 1:1-2:7 First let’s summarize the reading. — Isaac and Rebecca have twins. One is bad (Esau) and one is good (Jacob). They cannot coexist (to answer the first question). The good one will serve the bad until the end of time, and then things will flip.7) There are many…
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Ha’azinu: Words That Serve As A Witness
This quote by President Kennedy may or may not be real. “said to one of the highest officials of his Administration that he ‘wanted to splinter the C.I.A. in a thousand pieces and scatter it to the winds.’” Doesn’t matter. There are times when words give life to a thought that the rest of us…
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