Thoughts on Parshat Vayakhel & Shabbat Across America 2016

“Vayakel” means gather the people together… and that’s what we are doing this week at KBR! Participating in NJOP’s Shabbat Across America program is a wonderful way to join with our Jewish brothers and sisters, all across the US and Canada, to celebrate Shabbat.  To bask in the glow of candlelight and enjoy a festive… Continue reading Thoughts on Parshat Vayakhel & Shabbat Across America 2016

Thoughts on Parshat Tetzaveh – 5776

I am often amazed at the different types of olive oil that are available in stores today.  There are different levels of purity, acidity; there are dark ones, light ones. Which should you pick? It depends on how you want to use the oil. A lighter variety is often used for cooking, darker for salads.… Continue reading Thoughts on Parshat Tetzaveh – 5776

Thoughts for Parshat Mishpatim – 5776

When one observes a fellow in need of help, there is a natural tendency to offer assistance.  If, however, one dislikes the person in need, our desire to help them lessens significantly. We find in our Parsha that the verse states, “When you see the donkey of your enemy collapsing under a heavy burden, you… Continue reading Thoughts for Parshat Mishpatim – 5776

Thoughts for Parshat Va’era 5776

In this week’s Parsha, we read the first seven plagues that smote Egypt.  Regarding the second plague, tzefarde’ah, frogs, we find an interesting grammatical nuance. The Torah generally describes this plague as tzefarde’im – frogs (in the plural). But at the onset of this plague it is described, as we generally call it (see the… Continue reading Thoughts for Parshat Va’era 5776

Thoughts on Parshat Shemot – 5776

Moshe’s revelation at the burning bush is quite well-known. At second glance, however, this revelation seems unnecessary. In other situations, we don’t find Moshe needing physical symbolism to be part of his prophecy. It is also unusual for other prophets to experience this type of vision. Usually, communication from Hashem is clearer. To the simple… Continue reading Thoughts on Parshat Shemot – 5776

Thoughts on Parshat Vayigash – 5776

When a person casually asks, “How are you?”, they are usually just being polite. They are not really interested in hearing about your nighttime cough, your foot pain, your work aggravations. It is often a rhetorical question. [Unless it is (rarely) being asked sincerely.] With this in mind, we look at an odd conversation in… Continue reading Thoughts on Parshat Vayigash – 5776

A Missed Opportunity: Thoughts on Parshat Vayishlach – 5776

We see in this week’s Torah portion that Yaakov is very frightened of Esav. But this fear doesn’t paralyze him. Rather, he prepares himself in three ways: spiritually (with prayer), diplomatically (by sending Esav gifts), and militarily (defensively, by splitting up his family into two camps). When this meeting actually takes place, Esav is overcome… Continue reading A Missed Opportunity: Thoughts on Parshat Vayishlach – 5776

Parshat Shoftim – 5775

In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Shoftim, we find the prohibition against unnecessary waste, known as “baal tashchis,” which translates as “do not destroy.”  The source of this phrase, “baal tashchis,” is among the commandments that are concerned with Israel’s going to war.  The Jewish people are poised to enter Eretz Yisrael/The Land of Israel, where we… Continue reading Parshat Shoftim – 5775

An Idea “Four” Pesach

The number four figures quite prominently during Pesach: we ask the four questions, we drink four cups of wine, and we talk about four sons. There are those who even divide the Haggadah into four distinct sections and themes. Drinking wine symbolizes freedom, and at the Seder, we commemorate our freedom in this manner.  Why… Continue reading An Idea “Four” Pesach