Torah Concepts: the Source of Jewish Values

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Torah Concepts: the Source of Jewish Values Torah Concepts: the source of Jewish values Book II by Rabbi Joseph R. Radinsky Copyright © by Rabbi Joseph R. Radinsky December 1985 All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America MBS Business Printers/Houston, Texas HO1 16502v1 In Memory of my nephew JOSHUA ZVI FRIEDLAND who died while on duty as an officer in the Israeli Army His wonderful smile, his keen sense of justice, his willingness to help everyone, and his ability to reach out and relate to others will always be remembered He had so much promise, and he died so young We will always miss him HO1 16502v1 Rabbi Joseph Ruben Radinsky was born in Seattle, Washington. He is married to Juliette nee Mizrahi and the father of three children. He received his education at Yeshiva University, the University of Washington, from which he received an A.B. in English, Harvard University, from which he received an M.A. in Comparative Literature, and Hebrew Theological College, from which he received Smicha (Rabbinical Ordination). Rabbi Radinsky is the Chairman of the Houston Kashruth Association and the Chairman of the Rabbinic Cabinet of Houston Israel Bonds. He has also been a member of the Executive Board of the Rabbinical Council of America, President of the Kallah of Texas Rabbis, President of the Houston Rabbinic Association, and Chairman of the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations in Lafayette, Indiana. Rabbi Radinsky taught at the Seattle Hebrew School. For thirteen years he was Rabbi at the Congregation Sons of Abraham in Lafayette, Indiana. Since 1976, Rabbi Radinsky has been the Rabbi of the United Orthodox Synagogues of Houston, Texas. HO1 16502v1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank all those who made this book possible. I would especially like to thank Pam Laibson and Mary Sacks for typing the manuscript of this book and for copyreading it and Dr. Mark Friedman for proofing the galley sheets. His corrections were invaluable. Without their help this book would not have been possible. I am also greatly indebted to Herman Charski for all his work in securing sponsors for this book and all the Officers and members of the United Orthodox Synagogues especially Earl Lefkowitz, the President, for all their encouragement and help in producing this book. I would also like to thank my wife, Juliette, and our children, Devora and Rabbi Mark Urkowitz, Dena Radinsky, and Rabbi Eliezer Radinsky for all their inspiration, and my parents, Jack and Lillian Radinsky, for providing me and my brothers and sisters with such a positive Jewish home as we were growing up. I would also like to acknowledge my debt to my grandparents, Abraham and Anna Silver, and Ben Zion and Celia Radinsky, of blessed memory, who were such wonderful models of Jewish commitment. I am also indebted to the many people who shared their very personal experiences of the Holocaust with me as well as to Yaffa Eliach whose book Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust inspired some of my Yizkor sermons. I would like to also thank all those whose contributions made this book possible. Listed below are their names or the names of the deceased loved ones they wanted to honor. Michael & Susan Abramowitz James Burrus Dr. S.J. & Shirley Bader Michael & Sheila Camberg Dr. Larry & Sara Baitch Julius & Eva Lou Chapman Gilbert & Golda Baker Able & Sharon Charski David & Beverly Barg Herman & Helen Charski Eli & Nana Becker Shimon & Fien Cohen Joseph & Frances Beckoff Dr. David & Bonnie Cotlar Harold & Devorah Beinart Benjamin & Renee Danziger Dr. Joel & Marsha Berg Calman & Sarah Danziger Harry & Rose Bergman Dr. Julius & Avril Danziger Issie & Dorothy Bergman I. Bob Davis Dr. Arnold & Myra Berlin Robert & Rachel Davis Dr. Louis & Margaret Berman Scott & Carolyn Davis Tony & Greta Bernitz Sol & Seema Davis Robert & Betty Besser Ernest & Yvonne de Leef Nelson & Linda Block Cantor Irving & Millie Dean Joop & Joy Blog Abe & Margaret Donsky Dr. Edith Bondi Michael & Susanne Dugas Dr. Jules & Roselyn Borger Harry Rosmarin John & Sophie Braun Dr. Gordon & Sheila Sack Leon & Evelyn Brown Gizella E. Salmon & Anna Eisler Dr. Stan & Margie Burman Bruce & Frances Schimmel i HO1 16502v1 Moses & Sandra Schimmel Sol & Sally Waldman Anne Schulman Dr. Robert & Lennie Weinberger Dr. Maish & Mary Shalit Irving & Martha Weisberg Manny & Trude Simon George & Lillian Wernick Melvin & Judge Ruby Kless Sondock Dr. Bernard & Joan White Harry & Lotty Spinner Avrohm & Evelyn Wisenberg Henry & Madeline Spira Dr. Arnold & Laura Wolf Emil & Paula Steinfink Dr. David & Karen Wolf Sol & Lea Rea Stepinoff Florence K. Yellen Marvin S. Szneler Dr. Jerald & Aileen Zarin Israel Tapick Sam & Alys Taub IN MEMORIAM Harold & Carolyn Turboff Barry & Linda Waldman Rabbi Jacob & Sara Geller Carl Waldman Libby Yellen Geller Howard & Linda Waldman Rabbi Max Geller Walter Levy Abraham Simon Sam Sussman I would also like to thank all those who contributed anonymously, and I would also like to thank Max and Marillyn Goldfield for printing this book at their cost. Finally, I would like to thank the Holy One, Blessed be He, Who has given me the strength, insight, good friends, and understanding to be able to publish this book. Tam V’nishlam Shevach L-eil Boreih Olam. I want to especially thank and acknowledge all the help given to me by Dr. Edith Bondi, a woman who has been and who is completely devoted to doing deeds of loving kindness. She wholeheartedly believes in education. Through her efforts, countless youngsters have had their lives enriched and their talents developed. Her support of Jewish learning at all levels is total. She has always fulfilled the highest commandment, according to Maimonides: advancing learning. She has always translated into deeds of giving and caring her devotion to the ideals of our faith. May she continue to go from strength to strength, and may the Holy One, Blessed be He, continue to shower His blessings upon her and continue to give her the strength, courage, insight, good health, and means to continue to do Mitzvahs. ii HO1 16502v1 TABLE OF CONTENTS BEREISHEES ............................................................................................................................................... 1 DO SCIENCE & RELIGION CONFLICT? ......................................................................................................... 1 THE FINEST GIFT ........................................................................................................................................ 3 NOAH ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 THE SINS OF THE MIND A RE GREATER THAN THE SINS OF THE EMOTION ................................................. 5 LECH LECHA ............................................................................................................................................. 8 WHAT’S NECESSARY FOR A FAMILY? ........................................................................................................ 8 VAYERA ......................................................................................................................................................11 HOW SHOULD WE JUDGE PEOPLE? ...........................................................................................................11 CHAYE SARAH ..........................................................................................................................................14 WILL WE BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR URGE TO SELF-DESTRUCT IN CHECK? .................................................14 TOLDOS ......................................................................................................................................................17 WHAT’S NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK ......................................................................17 VAYAETZAE ..............................................................................................................................................20 WE JEWS AND THE WORLD........................................................................................................................20 VAYISLACH ...............................................................................................................................................23 FRIENDS, ACQUAINTANCES, AND LONELINESS ..........................................................................................23 VAYESHEV .................................................................................................................................................26 THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY ...................................................................................26 WHY WAS JOSEPH A TZADIK? ...................................................................................................................27 MIKETZ ......................................................................................................................................................29 IS EVERYTHING NEW ALWAYS BETTER? ...................................................................................................29 VAYIGASH .................................................................................................................................................32 PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE ...............................................................................................................................32 VAYECHI ....................................................................................................................................................35
Recommended publications
  • Parshat Matot/Masei
    Parshat Matot/Masei A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's Chumash Bemidbar/Book of Numbers with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc. THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE Copyright © 2006-2009 by Chabad of California THE TORAHSecond,- revisedCHUMASH printingB 2009EMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARYA BprojectASED ON of THE WORKS OF ChabadTHE LUBAVITCH of CaliforniaREBBE 741 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-208-7511Copyright / Fax © 310-208-58112004 by ChabadPublished of California, by Inc. Kehot Publication Society 770 Eastern Parkway,Published Brooklyn, by New York 11213 Kehot718-774-4000 Publication / Fax 718-774-2718 Society 770 Eastern Parkway,[email protected] Brooklyn, New York 11213 718-774-4000 / Fax 718-774-2718 Order Department: 291 KingstonOrder Avenue, Department: Brooklyn, New York 11213 291 Kingston718-778-0226 Avenue / /Brooklyn, Fax 718-778-4148 New York 11213 718-778-0226www.kehot.com / Fax 718-778-4148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book All rightsor portions reserved, thereof, including in any the form, right without to reproduce permission, this book or portionsin writing, thereof, from in anyChabad form, of without California, permission, Inc. in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc. The Kehot logo is a trademark ofThe Merkos Kehot L’Inyonei logo is a Chinuch,trademark Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Heshbon (Modern Hesbdn) Is Located in Transj Ordan
    THE HISTORY OF HESHBON FROM LITERARY SOURCES * WERNER VYHMEISTER River Plate College, Puiggari, Entre Rios, Argentina Heshbon (modern Hesbdn) is located in Transjordan, about 20 miles east of the Jordan where it enters the Dead Sea. The remains of the old city are covered now by two hills, 2,930 and 2,954 feet above sea level respectively. According to the latest available statistics (from 1961), the village of Hesbdn has 718 inhabitants. Heshbon in OT Times Heshbon appears for the first time in the Biblical record as the capital city of Sihon, the Amorite king defeated by Moses. However, the region in which Heshbon was located is mentioned much earlier in the Bible. In Gn 14:5, Chedor- laomer and his confederates appear as smiting successively the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim (i.e., the plain of Kiria- thaim). Kiriathaim has been identified with el-Qerei ydt, about five miles northwest of Dhz'bdn. It appears together with Heshbon in Num 32:37 among the cities rebuilt by the This article is a condensation of a B.D. thesis covering the same subject, deposited in the James White Library of Andrews University. * "Heshbon," Encyclopaedia Biblica, eds. T. K. Cheyne and J. S. Black, I1 (London, I~OI),col. 2044. "mi Dajani, director of the Department of Antiquities of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Letter to the author, December 12, 1966. 8 Num 21 :21 ff. 4 Siegfried H. Horn et al., Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary (Washington, D. C., 1960)~p.
    [Show full text]
  • Big Sandbox,” However It May Be Interpreted, Brought with It Extraordinary Enchantment
    eScholarship California Italian Studies Title The Embarrassment of Libya. History, Memory, and Politics in Contemporary Italy Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/9z63v86n Journal California Italian Studies, 1(1) Author Labanca, Nicola Publication Date 2010 DOI 10.5070/C311008847 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California The Embarrassment of Libya: History, Memory, and Politics in Contemporary Italy Nicola Labanca The past weighs on the present. This same past can, however, also constitute an opportunity for the future. If adequately acknowledged, the past can inspire positive action. This seems to be the maxim that we can draw from the history of Italy in the Mediterranean and, in particular, the history of Italy's relationship with Libya. Even the most recent “friendship and cooperation agreement” between Italy and Libya, signed August 30, 2008 by Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Libyan leader Colonel Moammar Gadhafi, affirms this. Italy’s colonial past in Libya has been a source of political tensions between the two nations for the past forty years. Now, the question emerges: will the acknowledgement of this past finally help to reconcile the two countries? The history of Italy’s presence in Libya (1912-1942) is rather different from the more general history of the European colonial expansion. The Ottoman provinces of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica (referred to by the single name “Libya” in the literary and rhetorical culture of liberal Italy) were among the few African territories that remained outside of the European dominion, together with Ethiopia (which defeated Italy at Adwa in 1896) and rubber-rich Liberia.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel's Conquest of Canaan: Presidential Address at the Annual Meeting, Dec
    Israel's Conquest of Canaan: Presidential Address at the Annual Meeting, Dec. 27, 1912 Author(s): Lewis Bayles Paton Reviewed work(s): Source: Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 32, No. 1 (Apr., 1913), pp. 1-53 Published by: The Society of Biblical Literature Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3259319 . Accessed: 09/04/2012 16:53 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. The Society of Biblical Literature is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Biblical Literature. http://www.jstor.org JOURNAL OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE Volume XXXII Part I 1913 Israel's Conquest of Canaan Presidential Address at the Annual Meeting, Dec. 27, 1912 LEWIS BAYLES PATON HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY problem of Old Testament history is more fundamental NO than that of the manner in which the conquest of Canaan was effected by the Hebrew tribes. If they came unitedly, there is a possibility that they were united in the desert and in Egypt. If their invasions were separated by wide intervals of time, there is no probability that they were united in their earlier history. Our estimate of the Patriarchal and the Mosaic traditions is thus conditioned upon the answer that we give to this question.
    [Show full text]
  • And This Is the Blessing)
    V'Zot HaBerachah (and this is the blessing) Moses views the Promised Land before he dies את־ And this is the blessing, in which blessed Moses, the man of Elohim ְ ו ז ֹאת Deuteronomy 33:1 Children of Israel before his death. C-MATS Question: What were the final words of Moses? These final words of Moses are a combination of blessing and prophecy, in which he blesses each tribe according to its national responsibilities and individual greatness. Moses' blessings were a continuation of Jacob's, as if to say that the tribes were blessed at the beginning of their national existence and again as they were about to begin life in Israel. Moses directed his blessings to each of the tribes individually, since the welfare of each tribe depended upon that of the others, and the collective welfare of the nation depended upon the success of them all (Pesikta). came from Sinai and from Seir He dawned on them; He shined forth from יהוה ,And he (Moses) said 2 Mount Paran and He came with ten thousands of holy ones: from His right hand went a fiery commandment for them. came to Israel from Seir and יהוה ?present the Torah to the Israelites יהוה Question: How did had offered the Torah to the descendants of יהוה Paran, which, as the Midrash records, recalls that Esau, who dwelled in Seir, and to the Ishmaelites, who dwelled in Paran, both of whom refused to accept the Torah because it prohibited their predilections to kill and steal. Then, accompanied by came and offered His fiery Torah to the Israelites, who יהוה ,some of His myriads of holy angels submitted themselves to His sovereignty and accepted His Torah without question or qualification.
    [Show full text]
  • The Externalisation of Migration Control a Comparative Study on the Impact of Bilateral Migration Agreements on Migrant Rights
    Master Thesis Out of sight, out of mind: The externalisation of migration control A comparative study on the impact of bilateral migration agreements on migrant rights Name: Joscha van Tol Student Number: s2305836 E-mail: [email protected] Master Programme: European Union Studies Date: 10-8-2019 Supervisor: Mr. drs. G. G. Lodder Abstract Irregular migration to the European Union is not a new phenomenon. For decades, migrants have crossed the external borders of the Union illegally, hoping to find a better life. With the abolishment of internal border controls in the European Union, the necessity for increased protection of the external borders arose. This became especially clear when after the Arab Spring uprisings an unprecedented amount of people made their way to Europe, culminating in the 2015 European migration crisis. The response of the EU and its Member States entailed policies of deterrence and entry-prevention. Furthermore, agreements were made with third countries in order to stem the migration flows. These agreements effectively externalised migration control beyond the borders of Europe. In this comparative case study, the bilateral migration control agreements between Italy and Libya, and between Spain and Morocco are analysed, with the aim of assessing the impact of these agreements on the human rights of migrants residing in North Africa. The study suggests that through the bilateral agreements, externalisation of migration control is facilitated, which in turn has resulted in a crackdown on irregular migration, with severe consequences for the perception and treatment of irregular migrants in North Africa. Key words: externalisation of migration control, irregular migration, bilateral agreements, Libya, Morocco, human rights, European migration crisis.
    [Show full text]
  • Identity Crisis in Italy This Page Intentionally Left Blank IDENTITY CRISIS in ITALY
    168 25 168 Spurred by ongoing conflicts between city-states and the nobility, unification for Italy was a gradual and difficult process. While such divisions shortly subsided to allow the peninsula to become unified, Italy has always been troubled by the difficulties of cultivating a national identity. Identity Crisis Throughout the past and in the present, Italy has been a nation of division. But recently this division has become deeper because of the growing differences between the various parts of the country caused by ITALY IN DENTITY CRISIS unresolved political, institutional, economic and secu- rity problems. The need for academic discourse on the in Italy division encouraged scholars to cooperate and identify the most important causes and elements of the Ital- ian identity crisis such as the political crisis caused by feelings of lack, instability or injustice, the economic 238 and financial crises leading to the erosion of social cohesion and the insecurity linked to immigration. This book presents the result of this dialogue. Fanni Tanács-Mandák (ed.): I (ed.): Tanács-Mandák Fanni The work was created in commission of the National University of Public Service under the priority project PACSDOP-2.1.2- CCHOP-15-2016-00001 entitled “Public Service Development Establishing Good Governance.” Edited by: FANNI TANÁCS-MANDÁK European Social Fund INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE Identity Crisis in Italy This page intentionally left blank IDENTITY CRISIS IN ITALY Edited by Fanni Tanács-Mandák Dialóg Campus Budapest, 2019 The work was created in commission of the National University of Public Service under the priority project PACSDOP-2.1.2- CCHOP-15-2016-00001 entitled “Public Service Development Establishing Good Governance”.
    [Show full text]
  • Hezron (Person) 1012
    1011 Hezron (Person) 1012 Hezron (Person) Tsiyyon (“Lovers of Zion”), and they later formed a large part of the membership of the new Zionist 1. Third Son of Reuben organization created by Theodor Herzl in 1897. Their reevaluation of the importance of the Bible ˆ σρων Hezron (MT Ḥ eṣron; LXX Α ) is the name of two made itself felt particularly in two fields which later individuals in the Bible. One is the third son of became major focuses of Zionist politics – territory Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn (Gen 46 : 9; Exod 6 : 14; and language. 1 Chr 5 : 3). He is the eponymous ancestor of the The rise of Hibbat Zion took place against the Hezronites (Num 26 : 6). In 1 Chr 4 : 1, two of the background of a profound social and cultural crisis sons listed as sons of Reuben in Gen 46 : 9 (Hezron among the Jewish population in the Russian em- and Carmi) are listed instead as sons of Judah, per- pire, Romania, and Habsburg Galicia. Jewish na- haps suggesting that their clans may have been as- tionalism constituted a third avenue of Jewish re- similated into the tribe of Judah. sponse to modernity, which combined aspects of two earlier movements, Jewish enlightenment (Has- 2. Son of Perez kalah) and Jewish orthodoxy, and which joined to- Hezron is also the name of one of two sons of Perez gether members of both groups (Bartal). In the late and, thus, a grandson of Judah and Judah’s daugh- Russian empire, where the Odessa branch of Hibbat ter-in-law, Tamar, who came together in an un- Zion, officially sanctioned only in 1890, was titled usual sexual union (Gen 38 : 29; 46 : 12).
    [Show full text]
  • Twelve Tribes of Israel
    Twelve Tribes of Israel Contents Reuben ................................................... 1 Simeon .................................................... 2 Levi ..................................................... 2 Judah .................................................... 3 Zebulun ................................................... 5 Issachar ................................................... 6 Dan ..................................................... 7 Gad ..................................................... 7 Asher .................................................... 8 Naphtali ................................................... 9 Joseph .................................................... 9 Benjamin .................................................. 10 A topical study guide, as taught by Pastor Robert Leah (Gen. 30:14). L. Bolender Austin Bible Church, 1998. 3. Committed adultery with Bilhah (Gen.35:22). All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed 4. Argued against the death of Joseph them. He blessed them, every one with the bless- (Gen. 37:21-29). ing appropriate to him (Gen. 49:28). The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “By faith Jacob, when he 5. And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch and Pallu was dying” (Heb. 11:21a). The blessings bestowed and Hezron and Carmi (Gen. 46:9). upon his children then, in Gen. 49, were given in 6. Laments the death of Joseph (Gen. 42:22). the power of the Holy Spirit and as direct revela- tion from God. 7. Makes a rash vow in a human-effort attempt to please Jacob (Gen. 42:37). Reuben “Reuben, you are my first-born; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity 1. The first-born son of Jacob by his wife Leah and preeminent in power. “Uncontrolled as water, (Gen. 29:31-32). you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he 2. Was the youth who provided mandrakes for went up to my couch. Grace Notes, a ministry of Austin Bible Church http://gracenotes.info/ Twelve Tribes of Israel 2 1.
    [Show full text]
  • 50 Years (Plus) and Counting: a Summer Matinee Sing-Along! Sunday, July 14 at 3:00 Pm Following an Ice Cream Bar (With MANY
    A Monthly Publication for Temple Beth-El, Las Cruces, New Mexico JULY 2019 (SIVAN-TAMMUZ 5779) Shabbat Services 50 years (plus) and counting: (See Page 2) A Summer Matinee Sing-Along! • Friday, July 5—7:00 pm—NO Sunday, July 14 at 3:00 pm EARLY SERVICE NOR DINNER THIS TIME– Shabbat service at 7:00 pm, led by Following an Ice Cream Bar Erich Zameret and Ruth Rubin. (with MANY fixings), • Friday, July 12—Shabbat service at Rabbi Larry Karol will present a 7:00 pm. • Friday, July 19 -Shabbat service at 7:00 pm. special set-list... • Friday, July 26 —Shabbat Service for • Songs by the Beatles (as Renewal of Spirit at 7:00 pm. from the film “Yesterday”) **************** Saturdays • Songs by Elton John (as Talmud Study at 9:00 am, Shabbat Service at from the film “Rocketman”) 10:15 am, followed by a potluck Kiddush • Hit songs of 1969 ***************** • American Folk Songs Summer Shiurim (Study) • Several of his originals with Rabbi Karol Please respond to Rabbi Karol at The Song Never Ends: Exploring the Psalms [email protected] Mondays at 7:00 pm or call 575-524-3380 July 1, 15 and 22 All materials will be provided. to say if you will attend. We will be using Rabbi Richard Join us for Levy’s (z”l) Songs Ascending commentary on the Psalms as our guide. a tuneful afternoon! Please let Rabbi Karol know if you plan to attend. Message from Rabbi Karol Message from D’var Torah on June 14, 2019 Temple President “Blessings from above and below” Cheryl Decker Most days, I find myself looking to the sky around the time of sun- Temple Beth El’s Board held set.
    [Show full text]
  • BTT Parashat-Vayechi-2020-1
    MATSATI.COM Teaching Ministry פרשת ויחי Parashat Vayechi Genesis 47:28-50:26, 1 Kings 2:1-12, Luke 4:31-5:11 Dan and Ephraim not mentioned in Revelation This week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayechi, concludes the book of Bereshit / Genesis. In this last Torah portion, we read how before Jacob died he spoke prophetically over each of his sons, (Bereshit / Genesis 49) then his children buried him in Canaan in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite that Abraham had purchased. (Bereshit / Genesis 49:29) We read on how his brothers were afraid and Joseph said that He was in the place of God, that he forgave them of their sins against him. We read then of Joseph’s death at 110 years old and his command to bury his body in the same location as his fa- ther, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While reading through this week’s Torah portion, there are a few things that jump out of the text from the blessing that Jacob had spo- ken over his brothers. The two brothers we are interested in are Dan and Joseph specifically: Dan (49:16-18) Dan shall govern his ָּ֖דן ָיִ֣דין ַעּ֑מֹו ְּכַא ַ֖חד ִׁשְב ֵ֥טי ִיְׂשָר ֵֽאל׃ יְ י הִ ־ דָ ן֙נָ ֣ חָ ׁש people, As one of the tribes of Israel.17 ֲעֵל ֶ֔י־דֶרְך ְׁשִפ ֹ֖יפן ֲעֵלֹ֑י־אַרח ַהֹּנֵׁשְ֙ך ִעְּקֵב֔י־סּוס ִַוּי ֹּ֥פל ֹרְכ֖בֹו 1 Digging Deeper Torah Series Dan shall be a serpent by the road, A viper by ָאֽחֹור׃ the path, That bites the horse’s heels So that his rider I wait for ִֽלָיׁשּועְתָ֖ך ִקִּ֥וִיתי ְי ָֽהוה׃ is thrown backward 18 Your deliverance, O LORD! Joseph (49:22-26) -Jo ֵּ֤בן ֹּפָר֙ת ֵ֔יֹוסף ֵּ֥בן ֹּפ ָ֖רת ֲעֵל ָ֑י־עִיןָּב֕נֹות ָצֲע ָ֖דה ֲעֵלֽי־ׁשּור׃ seph is a wild ass, A wild ass by a spring —Wild colts וַֽ ְֽיָמֲר ֻ֖רהּו ָוֹ֑רּבּו ַֽו ִּֽי ְׂשְט ֻ֖מהּו ַּבֲע ֵ֥לי ִח ִּֽצים׃ on a hillside.
    [Show full text]
  • Parshat Pinchas
    Parshat Pinchas A free excerpt from the Kehot Publication Society's Chumash Bemidbar/Book of Numbers with commentary based on the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, produced by Chabad of California. The full volume is available for purchase at www.kehot.com. For personal use only. All rights reserved. The right to reproduce this book or portions thereof, in any form, requires permission in writing from Chabad of California, Inc. THE TORAH - CHUMASH BEMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARY BASED ON THE WORKS OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE Copyright © 2006-2009 by Chabad of California THE TORAHSecond,- revisedCHUMASH printingB 2009EMIDBAR WITH AN INTERPOLATED ENGLISH TRANSLATION AND COMMENTARYA BprojectASED ON of THE WORKS OF ChabadTHE LUBAVITCH of CaliforniaREBBE 741 Gayley Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024 310-208-7511Copyright / Fax © 310-208-58112004 by ChabadPublished of California, by Inc. Kehot Publication Society 770 Eastern Parkway,Published Brooklyn, by New York 11213 Kehot718-774-4000 Publication / Fax 718-774-2718 Society 770 Eastern Parkway,[email protected] Brooklyn, New York 11213 718-774-4000 / Fax 718-774-2718 Order Department: 291 KingstonOrder Avenue, Department: Brooklyn, New York 11213 291 Kingston718-778-0226 Avenue / /Brooklyn, Fax 718-778-4148 New York 11213 718-778-0226www.kehot.com / Fax 718-778-4148 www.kehotonline.com All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book All rightsor portions reserved, thereof, including in any the form, right without to reproduce permission, this book or portionsin writing, thereof, from in anyChabad form, of without California, permission, Inc. in writing, from Chabad of California, Inc. The Kehot logo is a trademark ofThe Merkos Kehot L’Inyonei logo is a Chinuch,trademark Inc.
    [Show full text]