Parshas Va'eira
In this week's parsha, Moshe told the Jewish people that G-d would redeem them from Egypt and give them the Torah. The Torah says that they were not "able to listen to Moshe because of the shortness of spirit and the harsh work."( loosely translated) This was part of the slavery by Pharaoh and the Egyptians: they did not want the Jews to contemplate lofty ideals and thoughts of redemption. The Path of the Just, by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto (1707–1746), relates that this is one of life's greatest challenges. We are constantly busy and there are many demands on our time; thus, we are faced with the challenge of not taking the time to think. This allows us to stay comfortable with our behavior and our path in life. Life is hectic and we have many responsibilities, but our Sages teach us that we need to spend just a few precious minutes daily, or at least from time to time, to stop and think! Have a great Shabbos! Naftali
0 Comments
Parshas Shmos
As we begin the story of the exodus from Mitzrayim (Egypt), we are introduced to Moshe (Moses). When he sought a mate, he went to a well, just as his ancestors had done; Eliezer, the servant of Avraham (Abraham), and Yaakov (Jacob) had met the future matriarchs at wells. The Midrash points out a stark contrast between Yaakov's arrival in the city of Charan and Moshe's appearance at the well in Midyan. Rochel (Rachel) was able to move about freely and no one bothered her, while the daughters of Yisro (Jethro) were not safe when they went out to the well. Commentaries explain that the difference was that Avraham had lived in Charan and his moral character left an indelible mark on the place for generations to come. We see from this a valuable two-fold lesson. We often wonder what kind of impact we can make in the world, as often we don't have an audience or an "official" following. However, we must realize that people are affected by what they see. Our proper and ethical actions make a significant impression, particularly on those closest to us. We can also adversely affect those around us. Likewise, we are highly influenced by our environment, and when we have the opportunity to choose where and with whom to spend our time, we should do so wisely. In short, each person must recognize that he/she is very important and that his/her actions make a difference in the world. Have a great Shabbos. Naftali Parshas Vayigash
The story of Yosef /Joseph and his brothers escalated and finally climaxed when Yehuda, who was capable of destroying Yosef and all of Egypt, was pushed to the limit. Yehuda confronted Yosef and Yosef revealed himself. The Midrash says that we see here the great wisdom of Yosef that he knew when to concede. The Midrash quotes Mishlei (Proverbs): "a wise man will appease him." Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz, from whom we also learned last week, asks: What was so wise and profound about this? Yosef knew the capability and seriousness of his brothers; wasn't it obvious that he should give in? The answer is that to an outsider this is obvious, but often when we are in the heat of an argument, and egos and small-minded goals are in front of us, it is very easy and quite common not to know when to stop or change course. The lesson is that although it may be difficult to concede to others, this lofty attribute is achievable and can make our daily living so much more enjoyable and productive. May we all have the foresight and strength to work on and develop this important trait. Have a wonderful Shabbos! Naftali |
Rabbi Naftali KarpEvery week Rabbi Karp sends out thoughts about the weekly Torah portion. Enjoy! Archives
June 2013
Categories |