Messages from January 2025

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16)All Jews are Royalty

Before inflicting the final plague, death of the firstborn, Moses warned Pharaoh that “your servants, will come down to me and prostrate themselves” and beg the Israelites to leave Egypt. (Exodus 11:8).  Why didn’t Moses say that Pharoah would also come and plead for the Jews to leave; why only his servants? (Especially considering that after the plague, Pharaoh himself […]

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

Starbucks and Pharaoh Imagine if you were miraculously given superhuman power and had the ability to confront an evil monarch, someone who has persecuted, oppressed and murdered tens of thousands of people. How would you approach him? Would you address him in a respectful way or would speak in an insulting and degrading fashion? Whether […]

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

                                         The Hostage Deal and Moses’ Patience The announcement of the hostage deal brings with it a whole host of emotions. We are, of course, overjoyed that the hostages will be coming home, yet anxious about the prospect that many terrorists are being released and that the situation in Gaza is fluid. Frustrated that Israel […]