Falling through the cracks
“The mouse is not the thief – the hole is the thief!” (Gittin 45a). One lesson I take from this is that when fellow Jews seek nourishment in foreign spiritual pastures, I don’t blame them because they didn’t make the hole in the wall. Their formative Jewish experiences were usually of a culture, an ethnicity, […]
The Miracle of Nature
You may have noticed that there is a slight variation in the Torah’s description of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds. Exodus 14:22 says that the Israelites went “b’toch hayaym bayabasha” – within the sea on dry ground. But a few verses later, we are told they went “bayabasha b’toch hayam” – on dry […]
Distraction barrier
After leaving Egypt, the people of Israel found themselves trapped between Pharaoh’s pursuing army and the Sea of Reeds. However, “God said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to me? Speak to the people of Israel and have them go forward!’” Rabbenu Ephraim points out that the final letters of the Hebrew words “mah […]
Being human
Each person is due honor and respect just by virtue of being human. Those you love and don’t love, those who wish you well and those who stand opposed to you, each (including yourself) is worthy of honor, embodying a divine soul made in the image and likeness of God. Because we are only human, […]
Reflect Him
“This is my God and I will glorify Him…” (Exodus 15:2) To remake oneself in Hashem’s image constitutes Hashem’s glorification. Your virtuous deeds and striving for holiness are a reflection of Hashem’s splendor in the world. (Maharal)
Bitter Sweet
“They came to Marah (mar in Hebrew means bitter) and could not drink the waters of Marah for they were bitter; therefore, they named it Marah”. (Exodus 15:23) The Baal Shem Tov explains that the word “they” is speaking not about the waters, but about the Israelites. Indeed, people who are jaundiced and negative by […]
How could God?
I was asked this morning why God would allow people to grow up believing untruths about Him. Some people discover later in life that they’ve been on a wrong path and feel tremendous bitterness towards God. Here’s my response: I’m never comfortable trying to explain the ways of the Almighty, because who am I? We […]
Dark mirror
Moses stretched forth his hand toward the heavens and there was a thick (palpable) darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. No man could see his brother nor could anyone rise from his place… (Exodus 10:22-23) The Gerrer Rebbe explained that the worst darkness is when we are unable to see the other […]
Pray prior to inspiration
Many of us regretfully refrain from habitual prayer, waiting for an urge that is complete, sudden and unexampled. But the unexampled is scarce, and perpetual refraining can easily grow into a habit. We may even come to forget what to regret, what to miss. (Abraham Joshua Heschel)
The translator is a traitor
It is interesting that virtually all non-Jewish versions of Exodus 10:1 translate it incorrectly. The verse begins: God said to Moshe, BO EL PAR’OH. You will usually find this translated as: God said to Moshe, go to Pharaoh… However, the word BO means ‘come’, not ‘go’. Clearly, the translators feel that it would be awkward […]