Messages from January 2023

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16)Actions vs. Miracles

January 27, 2023
Exodous
Bo

On the tenth of this month, they shall take for themselves, each person, a lamb for each household, a lamb for the household. (Exodus 12:3)The tenth of this month refers to the day the Jews would designate of a lamb as the Passover offering, but the actual offering happened four days later. Why couldn’t they simply have […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Va’eira (Exodus 6:2-9:35)Crucial Confrontations

January 20, 2023
Exodous
Vaera

We all know the story; plagues came to Egypt because Pharaoh did not listen. Before the destruction brought about by the plague of Hail, the Egyptians were given the opportunity to save their animals.Whoever among the servants of Pharaoh FEARED the word of G-d chased his servants and livestock in the houses. And whoever DID NOT PAY […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1)

January 13, 2023
Exodous
Shemot

Trust or Narcissism? After being told by G-d to return to Egypt and command Pharaoh to release the Jews, Moses says: ‘Please G-d, I am not a man of words, also not since the day before yesterday, nor since You first spoke to Your servant; for I am heavy of mouth and heavy of speech.’ (4:10) […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26) 5783/2023

January 6, 2023
Genesis
Vayechi

The Talmud (Sotah 13a) relates a unpleasant circumstance that occurred when Jacob’s sons went to bury him. The entrance of the burial cave was blocked by their uncle (Esau), their father’s nemesis, who claimed the land belonged to him and wouldn’t allow Jacob to be buried there. Jacob’s sons got into a heated debate about the […]