Understanding the Hebrew months: KISLEV
The commandment to proclaim the New Moon was the first commandment given to the entire Jewish nation. In Exodus 12, God says: This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months – it shall be the first of the months of the year for you” When Israel was enslaved in Egypt, they were […]
Spreading the light
“He took him outside and said: Look toward the heavens and count the stars…And He said to him – so will your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5) Abraham’s descendants are compared to the stars of the heavens whose light is able to bring illumination to the darkness of night. God appointed Israel to be a light […]
Transforming negativity
“I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse… (Genesis 12:3). The Hebrew terms here break symmetry in an interesting way. The root for ‘bless’ (BRCH) is used twice in the verse. But there are two different Hebrew roots for cursing (KLL and ARR). God says: Those who curse […]
CHANGE MAKERS
“…Noach was a righteous man, flawless in his generation, and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). With these credentials, why wasn’t Noach tapped to be the progenitor of God’s chosen nation? The Alshich notes that Noach walked with God, but wasn’t so connected to the rest of humanity. If we compare him to Abraham, we […]
Light up your words
“…A window you shall make for the ark.” (Genesis 6:16) The Hebrew word for window is ‘tzohar’, which can also mean illumination or light. The word for ark is ‘teivah’, which can also mean word. Based on this, the Baal Shem Tov derives a teaching about prayer: You shall illuminate your words! Polish them with […]
Noah Illuminated
“Make a tzohar for the ark…” (Genesis 6:16). Rashi* cites two views regarding what the tzohar was. One understanding is that it was a window that functioned as a skylight for the ark. The other view is that it was a luminous stone. Previously, Rashi presented two views of what was meant by the qualifier […]
Light vs Darkness
God called the light day and the darkness He called night… (Genesis 1:5) Rabbi Elijah of Vilna, known as the Gaon (genius) of Vilna used this verse from the beginning of the Torah to illuminate a passage from King Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes: And I perceived that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness (2:13). […]