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Insights Into Torah and Contemporary Life
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TO ERR IS DIVINE: RE-BUILDING AND GROWTH (Parshat Breishit)We all make mistakes, but that's alright. According to the Midrash and the Zohar, God created worlds, then destroyed and recreated them. What empowering lesson do we learn from this fact? How does it challenge and inspire us?
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•871 Views•April 25, 2022•Parshat Breishit,Genesis,Breishit,Parashat Breishit
AFTER THE FLOOD, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT? (Parshat Noach)In the Haftarah for P' Noach, the Sephardic custom is to read God's guarantee to humanity after the Flood; Ashkenazic custom is to continue in Isaiah with verses about the Jewish People's & humanity's responsibilities to God & society. What is the significance in this difference?
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•672 Views•April 25, 2022•Breishit,Noah,Genesis,Isaiah,Noach,Parshat Noach,Parashat Noach
AVRAHAM AND SARAH: THE FIRST POWER COUPLE AND THEIR CONTINUED IMPACT UPON US (Parshat Lech Lecha)The Torah gives us no introduction to Avraham and Sarah before they take center stage at ages 75 and 65, respectively, as world leaders. Why are there no early biographies like we see with regard to Moshe? What can we learn from this in our own personal development?
FROM DERISION TO REDEMPTION: THE JOURNEY OF LAUGHTER (Parshat Vayera)In Parshat Vayera, we find that laughter demonstrates many things: joy, amazement, derision, cynicism, fear, optimism and hope. The responsibility of the Jewish People is to transform laughter of derision and fear into laughter of redemption.
ISAAC AND ISHMAEL: BURYING GRIEVANCES AND BRINGING THE REDEMPTION (Parshat Chayei Sarah)Dedicated in loving memory of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, זצ״ל, (on the occasion of his first Yahrzeit), who inspired our covenantal community and worked towards healing a fractured world. May his memory be a blessing.
TAKING THE INITIATIVE IN OUR LIVES AND TRANSFORMING JEWISH DESTINY (Parshat Toldot)Rivkah leads through action, not words. In taking the initiative at pivotal moments in her life, she transforms her reality and the destiny of the Jewish People, making her perhaps the most impactful matriarch. What can we learn from Rivkah in leading our lives?
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•731 Views•April 25, 2022•Parshat Toldot,Rivkah,Breishit,Rebecca,Genesis,Toldot,Isaac and Rebecca
COMPLETING OUR PORTRAITS: MAKING JACOB'S DREAM OUR REALITY (Parshat Vayeitze)Jacob's dream is humanity's reality. We live in two worlds, the physical and the spiritual. We are higher than the angels! How do we ensure that our physical and spiritual portraits bear resemblance to each other? Thoughts on the parsha.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•697 Views•April 25, 2022•Vayeitzei,Yaakov,Jacob's Ladder,Jacob,Breishit,Vayetze,Jacob's Dream,Genesis
MOVING FORWARD, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS (Parshat Vayishlach)What is the message behind the Torah's prohibition on eating from the sciatic nerve, which is crucial to our ability to move? Thoughts on the parsha and what it takes to make a difference, even when it hurts.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•682 Views•April 25, 2022•Jacob,Yaakov,Jacob and Esau,VaYishlach,Yaakov; Esav,Parshat Vayishlach
TRANSFORMING STRUGGLES INTO TRIUMPHS (Parshat Vayigash)"Few and hard have been the years of my life". Is Yaakov complaining about G-d to Pharaoh? What is the message behind this perplexing dialogue? What can we learn from it in overcoming adversity and living lives of purpose and blessing?
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•837 Views•April 24, 2022•Adversity,Vayigash,Genesis,Yaakov,Pharaoh,Jacob,Breishit
A TIME TO SURVIVE AND A TIME TO THRIVE (Parshat Vayechi)We bless our sons to be "like Ephraim and like Menashe." Why did Yaakov put the younger before the older? In their names, there is a secret to understanding key principles in life: sometimes we strive to flourish and sometimes, just surviving is heroic.
Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander•688 Views•April 24, 2022•Vayechi,Breishit,Parashat Vayehi,Jacob's Blessing,Birchat Yaakov,Genesis
