…VAYISHLACH: If you find yourself struggling with faith, you are in the company of Jacob-who-became-Israel, the father-in-faith of us all. VAYESHEV: Seen through the eye of faith, today’s curse may be the beginning of tomorrow’s blessing. MIKKETZ: What can be healed is not holy. God does not want us to accept poverty and pain but to cure them. VAYIGASH: We…
Pictured above: 1: Eddie Jacobson (left), with his friend, former President Harry S. Truman 2: Dorothy de Rothschild speaking at a political rally, c. 1945 The story of Joseph and his brothers, spread over four parshiyot, is the longest and most tightly-scripted of all the narratives in the Torah. Nothing is there by accident; every detail counts. One moment, however,…
The Parsha in a Nutshell This week our story shifts focus from Yaakov to his children and their relationship. Yosef was Yaakov’s favourite son, as he was the firstborn of his beloved wife Rachel. This caused tension and jealousy between Yosef and his brothers. Yosef was a dreamer and he shared two of his dreams with the family, one about…
…that one of the greatest blessings of my life.” Rabbi Sacks also offered this longer reflection on the impact of Rabbi Rabinovitch: https://youtu.be/zuwiq8Ocr2g Here we highlight three of Rabbi Sacks’ Covenant & Conversation essays that were inspired by Rabbi Nachum Rabinovitch: The Courage to Live with Uncertainty (Noach) The Heroism of Tamar (Vayeshev) My Teacher: In Memoriam (Matot – Masei)…
…lead. A leader should never try to be all things to all people. A leader should be content to be who they are. Leaders must have the strength to know what they cannot be if they are to have the courage to be truly their best selves. [1] Deuteronomy 31:19. [2] Tanhuma, Vayeshev 8; cited by Rashi in his commentary…
…Silence saves us from evil speech but in and of itself it achieves nothing positive. What then is lashon hatov? One of the most important tasks of a leader, a parent or a friend is focused praise. We first discussed this idea in parshat Vayeshev, where we examined the classic text on this – a Mishnah in Tractate Avot in…
…be God’s will that His Presence lives in the work of our hands.” Notes [1] Leviticus Rabbah 34; Ruth Rabbah 5; Tanhuma (Buber), Vayeshev 13; Yalkut Shimoni, Ruth 604. [2] See Edward N. Lorenz, The Nature and Theory of the General Circulation of the Atmosphere (Geneva: World Meteorological Organization, 1967); The Essence of Chaos (Seattle: University of Washington Press,…
…Babylonian exile) the Jews. Bereishit Noach Lech Lecha Vayera Chayei Sarah Toldot Vayetse Vayishlach Vayeshev Mikketz Vayigash Vayechi Shemot (Exodus) The book of Exodus – Shemot – is the West’s meta-narrative of hope. It tells an astonishing story of how a group of slaves were liberated from the mightiest empire of the ancient world. Theologically, its message is even more…
…have to empower, encourage, and praise them. Vayeshev: How Praise Can Empower Dream dreams, understand and articulate the dreams of others, and find ways of turning a dream into a reality – these three gifts are leadership, the Joseph way. Mikketz: Three Approaches to Dreams The stories of Judah and his descendant David tell us that what marks a leader…
…art of legacy building 23 November 2022 – Toldot Rabbi Johnny Solomon: Unconditional love 30 November 2022 – Vayetze Rebbetzin Lauren Levin: Jacob’s ladder – A blueprint for humanity 7 December 2022 – Vayishlach Rav Alex Israel: Shimon and Levi – Saviours or savages? 14 December 2022 – Vayeshev Dr Lindsay Simmonds: A holy people – Deception, violence and salvation…