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Rabbi's Corner57655766 5767 5768 5769 5770 bereshit noach lech_lecha vayera chaye_sarah toldot vayetzei vayishlach vayeshev miketz vayigash vayechi shemot bo beshalach yitro tetzaveh ki_tissa pekudei purim shemini tazria pesach acharei_mot kedoshim emor behar bechukotai bamidbar beha'alotkha shlach_lecha korach ki_tetze noah lech_lecha chaye_sarah toldot vayetze vayishlach vayeshev vayechi shemot bo |
Rabbi's Commentary on the Weekly ParshaBo The Lord said to
Moses and Aaron in the 12:1 This parsha…is the first to contain a comprehensive
list of religious ordinances; of positive and negative injunctions…Indeed Rashi’s first words in his commentary on the Torah are in
the form of a question as to why Scripture did not begin with the first precept
given in Exodus 12:1…What was the Torah’s purpose in framing so many
precepts? Why is the Jewish way of life,
distinguished for these numerous commands, negative and positive, that govern
its every facet? Nechama Leibovitz (20th Century) Our first appearance in world history…as a kingdom of
priests and a holy nation took place at this season. It is accordingly fitting that we should
commemorate this event by performing such acts as would re-enact within us that
spiritual achievement, thus perpetuating its impact on us for all time. Do not think…to find a flaw…and ask, “Why did
god have to command us to do all this in order to commemorate this
miracle. Surely one commemorative act
would have been sufficient to ensure that the event would be recalled by us and
not be forgotten?...Know that man is influenced by his actions and his
intellectual and emotional life is conditioned by the things he does, good or
bad…Whoever has a mezuzah on his doorpost and Tzitzit
on his garment and tefilin on his forehead may be
assured that he shall not sin. Since the
foregoing constitutes precepts of continuous application, their influence is
likewise continuous. Consider well
therefore your occupations and pursuits; for you will be influenced by them and
not vice versa… Sefer Hachinuch (13th Century) A man should cultivate good deeds in order to improve
his character and eschew evil deeds for undesirable traits to disappear. Know that good and bad qualities can only be
cultivated by repetitive acts. If those actions are good and we acquire a praiseworthy trait, if
bad an undesirable one. Rambam
(12th Century) Unlike most ancient calendars, which were based on
natural phenomena, the Hebrew calendar chose a historical event – the Exodus
from Aaron Demsky (Contemporary) (There is a serious) gap created between those Jews
who observe the Mitzvot and those who do not, a gap which is not only
ideological, but is – even against their will – existential. Two Jews cannot dine at the same table if one
– and only one of them observes the laws of Kashrut;
and families which observe the mitzvot cannot
intermarry with families which do not…the kitchen and the table, sex and
marital life and work, constitute the realities of human life: thus we see that we cannot live our lives in
common…(I said to an IDF general commanding my son) Do you know that (on
Pesach) I could not even drink a cup of water in your home, because of the chametz in your dishes?
You are the commander of my sons and grandsons in the army, and I could
not drink a cup of water in your home….For you Pesach is a symbol of the
history of the Jewish people. But for my
wife and myself, Pesach is not a symbol, but a
reality…For you, Pesach is a sentimental matter…whereas for us, Pesach is an
existential issue…the most profound problem which confronts the Jewish people
and Judaism today. Yeshayahu
Leibowitz (20th Century) |
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