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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:30
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Portion Vayechi
Death of Jealousy!
So in the TelAviv airport I helped a guy find a way to charge his cell phone before flying to Brussels
Of course Talking Torah was an ice breaker
Like
In short ... we saw the portions of the last few weeks revolving around
The brothers jealous of Joseph
Jacob overprotective of young man Benjamin
Judah overcome with despair
So Jacob blesses the family before leaving the world
Each according to their personal qualities
With the blessing and reliance that in the Future
All shortcomings will be resolved!
In Vayechi we see in this weekly portion brotherly solidarity
Joseph did accomplish that temporarily
But we still need to implement that -
in the airports and in the world
Watching two sisters play this week AND
Meeting people in the airport in Rome AND
Making a Minyan there for Kaddish with Jewish people speaking many languuages
Going different places
I became certain that we can help bring upon the world
The many blesings and prophecies of our
Great Fatbers and Mohers
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:28
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Portion Va yigash : Brothers or Not (same for sisters?)
The Mesrash on this portion states that Judah threatened to kill Joseph (before he knew it was Joseph) if Benjamin was not returned to the clan.
Joseph was not afraid – and he merely took this as a sign that the brother who sold him into slavery had repented.
What kind of brothers are we talking about?
Sometimes I share in my Shabat Sermons a few words that I get from an American guy who prays with me in Jerusalem's Great Synagogue.
After Great Synagogue services he has a cup of coffee and then goes out on the street with a mike and amp to sing for donations.
He;s there on the street all day and he pays his bills from that – and even makes some donations to the elders with whom I study.
There is some respect in both directions.
However – out on the street – there are some others who prey on him - but he won't fight back.
Why do some people innately have to attack others?
WHY was it so hard for Joseph's brothers to just leave Joseph and his dreams alone?
And WHY?
this week why did a particular street person smash the guys amplifier to smithereens (as the guy told me)?
Joseph caused them – his brothers - no harm – but they couldn't get beyond PETTINESS .
Confronting Violence – in a week of sadness in Israel over tragedy of terror attacks…it's so hard…
So the guy I know had to sing without an amp in the cold Jerusalem winter
He told me this on Wednesday.
I put my hand in my pocket to pull out 100 shekels - but then he got excited saying
Three cops on motorcycles came over to me later and said "You are coming with us""
"And you know I have a thing for cops, so I asked them "Why – what did I do?
Did Benjamin even know that the 10 other brothers conspired against Joseph?
Did he ever find out? There was NO FACEBOOK in those days!
"We'll tell you why, they said. We're going to buy you a new amp."
He told me "I said, I just wanted to fix my old amp".
One of the cops said "We saw it all on FACEBOOK, someone took a video – so come with us now…" and they drove him to a store.
Others also came over after seeing it on FACEBOOK
How can we Fix ourselves and our brothers?
Joseph cried – and revealed himself to his shocked brothers.
But to the day Jacob died they still did not understand fully that Joseph FULLY believed the hand of the Almighty was in it all, just like he said.
Maybe some who saw it all on FACEBOOK believe it …
May we remember EVEN AFTER SHABBAT to try to be there for ALL our brothers and sisters.
Shabbat Shalom
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:28
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Portion Vaeshev - What came first - Shabbos or Chanuka?
The Holy Masters teach us that certain things were created before the world as we know it was created by the Almighty (see Pirkei Avot).
In reading this portion on might think that foolish dreams and jealousy and anger - and guilt? Came first...
Or maybe a LITTLE LOVE of some brothers ...? Who tried to save Joseph from the above ...
Anyone who reads the Torah must see that certain energies existed before the Torah was given
See how Cain was able to ask a little forgiveness (but not to completely do TESHUVA - repent ) from his heinous crime – who taught him that? Where did that COME FROM?
And Noah was a Tzadik it says – truly righteous – amidst a degenerate generation – WHERE DID THAT SPIRITUAL STRENGTH COME FROM?
And we see from the recent portions the POWER OF ABRAHAM – to see through the idol worship around him – and strongly believe in G-d until G-D appeared and started to BELIEVE in ABRAHAM and in his childrens' power –to until today preach and teach the way of righteousness and holiness and morality and fealty to the Almighty and the holy teachings …
We are taught that Moses received all the Laws of Shabbos before Mount Sinai and the Torah.Was that
So was that from the time of Abraham? from Noah?
Or from Adam and Eve and Cain Abel and … from before the creation of the world?
Is Shabbos and Peace and Holiness in our DNA – but just ignored by the world?
And where did the Maccabee power to resist the perversion of Greece (and Rome) come from?
Was it not in our DNA and part of the power of Abraham – and Noah – and in the creation of Adam and Eve when the Almighty decided there must be humanity in the universe?
What else is there that is so engrained in the human soul – that fights greed and meanness of spirit and evil – than the Power of Chanukah and the dedication of the Maccabees?
So where in the scriptures do we see that?
And where in this portion do we see the ENERGY of Joseph – despised by his brothers – become King in Egypt because of his humanity (saving the known world- see next 2 portions)
Well – we really have no source to rely on that Chanuka dedication came before Shabbos Peace – but the Rule of the Torah is :
that we LIGHT the (extra long) CHANUKA CANDLES NEXT WEEK before the Shabbat Candles (which we should do always).!!!So for
This coming week we should read the Torah and light the candles and sing (and dance?) the songs (read the Book of Maccabees?) and TRY TO ADD A LITTLE LIGHT IN THE WORLD AROUND US
And thank the Almighty for a few minutes a day for the Power of Shabbos and the Power of Chanuka and the History of Israelite Holy Wisdom and Faithfulness and Sharing and…
Gutt Shabbos and
Freilichen (joyous) Chanukah to the world
Shabba Shalom from Israel
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:27
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Portion VaYishLach - and a little struggle never hurts...
Jacob struggled with the angel in this portion.
My Favorite Elad Rabbi (Rabbi Yaskil) spoke about this yesterday (I got a Wattsapp recording) and said:
the struggle of Jacob is also for EACH of us (not only father Jacob) : to STRUGGLE WITH EVIL-
not always accomplishing the defeat of evil (Jacob got away in the portion but a little wounded)
but the portion teaches that Hashem wants us to Never Give Up the Struggle against evil.
So I was in Miami this week - and found my way to the Chabad of South Beach to pray-
(where I was once caught in a hurricane).
Praying peacefully seems not to be my forte -
and this time I was sitting between three Israeli guys who were having problems -
and I got pulled into their stories -
and naturally I had to help them out with a few things I am pretty good at.
So let's all remember the teaching of the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto
that "the greatest mitzvah is to do a favor for another Yid"
and that Rabbi Yaskil repeats the teaching of Rebbe Nachman -
that it is OKAY to struggle - and realize that we don't have to always win for the Almighty to be proud of us!
The Thanksgiving weekend ALSO teaches us - not to give up the struggle
Like the history of our people shows us that we CAN OVERCOME all the struggles
so
let's get ready for shabbat
and may we be blessed with peace and joy this shabbat
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:27
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Portion VaYishLach - and a little struggle never hurts...
Jacob struggled with the angel in this portion.
My Favorite Elad Rabbi (Rabbi Yaskil) spoke about this yesterday (I got a Wattsapp recording) and said:
the struggle of Jacob is also for EACH of us (not only father Jacob) : to STRUGGLE WITH EVIL-
not always accomplishing the defeat of evil (Jacob got away in the portion but a little wounded)
but the portion teaches that Hashem wants us to Never Give Up the Struggle against evil.
So I was in Miami this week - and found my way to the Chabad of South Beach to pray-
(where I was once caught in a hurricane).
Praying peacefully seems not to be my forte -
and this time I was sitting between three Israeli guys who were having problems -
and I got pulled into their stories -
and naturally I had to help them out with a few things I am pretty good at.
So let's all remember the teaching of the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto
that "the greatest mitzvah is to do a favor for another Yid"
and that Rabbi Yaskil repeats the teaching of Rebbe Nachman -
that it is OKAY to struggle - and realize that we don't have to always win for the Almighty to be proud of us!
The Thanksgiving weekend ALSO teaches us - not to give up the struggle
Like the history of our people shows us that we CAN OVERCOME all the struggles
so
let's get ready for shabbat
and may we be blessed with peace and joy this shabbat
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:26
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Portion Chayei Sarah - What Kind of Miracle is THAT?
Thought from Yeshiva Simchat Shlomo in Jerusalem: (slightly modified by AE)
There is something inside us which tries to convince us to do something not good,
but even worse than that, is when after the fact,
it tries to convince us that this good thing we accomplished, was really not so good at all.
The Evil Inclination was PUSHING Abraham and TAUNTING Sarah about
the "offering of Isaac" test on Mount Moriah - (which they PASSED)
to the point where Abraham's story nearly ends this week,
and Sarah's only defense was to "give up the ghost" as it was.
We are all being tested all the time (especially by the crazy drivers on the road!)
But one way to fight those "why me" attacks is to
Believe in yourself and
desire to serve HaShem and cause good in the world
AND DO MITZVAS EVERY DAY! As many as you can.
So what was the big miracle when Abraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac?
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach taught:
Rebecca was BUSY but she found TIME to pull up water from the well
- for Eliezer AND for the camels!
And today every Jew is a MIRACLE - every Mitzva is a miracle -
and from the time of Abraham every Jew is a MIRACLE
and every Jew that stands up for the Almighty and for
holiness in the world is a MIRACLE
After what the world did - and DID NOT do (like not saving the millions murdered by Hitler and Stalin)
Every Jew - from
Pittsberg to "Palestine" where nearly HALF A MILLION JEWS LIVE
is a miracle!
Rebecca was found to be a perfect miracle and spouse to Isaac
and we can all help each other and our children find the right partners
So let's help those little miracles keep rolling out ...
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
