Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Mishpatim 5768 — Yithro: Prototype of Jewish Honesty, Principle and Unity

moshe

.
By, Moshe Burt

Parsha Yithro concludes with the high moment to date in world history; The Asseret HaDibrot (The 10 Statements) on the 6th day of the month of Sivan.

In our parsha Mishpatim, many basic laws of civilized existence are enunciated for B’nai Yisrael. The purpose of the Mishpatim, the civil laws, are to protect the moral fiber of society by regulating relationships between men, ecouraging truthfulness, sincerity and
kindness while condemning immorality and deceit.

Along about last Tuesday (of the week of Parsha Yithro), this author thought to question how it transpired, how it evolved that Yithro, Moshe Rabbeinu’s Father-in-Law, a former member of Pharoh’s ruling circle and one who had tried every avodah zora before finding Hashem; merited that the format for law enforcement and justice in the B’nai Yisrael would flow from him. read more

Parsha Yitro 5768: Toward a Paradigm Torah Judiciary

moshe

.

by Moshe Burt

Our parsha has taught over the years about the mutual admiration, love and respect which existed between Moshe Rabbeinu and his father-in-law Yitro, the former advisor to Pharoh.

Shem Mishmuel writes on our parsha about Yitro’s journey to the camp of the B’nai Yisrael, his heartfelt desire to join the B’nai Yisrael and the meeting between Moshe and Yitro.

When Yitro arrived;

Moshe went out to greet his father-in-law, and he bowed and kissed him, and each man asked after the welfare of his friend, and the came into the tent. (Shemos Perek 18, posuk 7) read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Beshalach 5768: Learning From Moshe and Being As One With Our Brother’s Suffering

moshe

.

by Moshe Burt

Near the end of our Parsha, we read “And the hands of Moshe were heavy and they took a rock and placed it under him and he sat on it.” (Sefer Sh’mos, Perek 17, posuk 12)

Rabbi Pliskin in Growth Through Torah cites a Rashi which states “that
Moshe did not sit on a comfortable pillow, but a rock. There was a battle going on with Amalek and Moshe wanted to feel the suffering of the people. This, said Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz, is a lesson in feeling for another person’s suffering. Not only should we mentally feel their pain, but it is proper to do some action in order to feel some of the discomfort yourself when someone else experiences pain. This way [through empathy] you actually feel his pain.” (Growth Through Torah, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, page 177, citing from Daas Torah, page 152) read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Bo: Finding the Emunah to Break Out of Apathy and Fear’s Box

moshe

.

Moshe Burt

Parsha Bo is the one which, for me, annually relates to that crazy tune which played back “in the Old Country” a couple of decades ago, “Does Your Korbon Pesach Lose It’s Flavor Tied to the Bedpost Overnight?” (Actually, the real title to the song was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?”)

Over the years, this author has opened with this nutty parody of mine because it cuts right to the very heart of our Parsha. That is the Mitzvot of taking the Korbon Pesach, applying the da’am on Jewish doorposts, the going up from Mitzrayim (Egypt) to “…a land flowing with milk and honey …” and the first mitzvah commanded of the National entity (B’nai Yisrael), the Kiddush HaChodesh — the sanctification of the New Moon and the relevance today of these mitzvot which relate to emunah (belief in) and yirat (fear of)Hashem. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Va’era 5768: How to Reconnect to Disconnected Israelis?

moshe

.
At the conclusion of Parsha Shemos, Moshe and Aaron are confronted, upon exiting Pharoh’s Palace, by the B’nai Yisrael who are in deeper despair than before because of the increased workload which resulted from Pharoh’s fury at Moshe’s first effort to secure their freedom and exit from Mitzrayim.

Our Parsha begins with the dialogue which Moshe Rebbeinu has with Hashem prior to again speaking to the B’nai Yisrael. And so, after
Hashem rebukes Moshe for his complaint and reassures him that redemption is at hand, Moshe again addresses the B’nai Yisrael as to his meeting with Pharoh. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Shemos 5768: Then and Now(?) — The Evolution of Jewish Enslavement

moshe

.

by Moshe Burt

To sufficiently comprehend the evolution of the enslavement of B’nai Yisrael in Mitzriyim, it would seem that one needs to comprehend the closed nature of the two preceding Parshiyot; the concluding posuk of Vayigash;

And Yisrael dwelt in the land of Mitzriyim in the land of Goshen, and they acquired property in it and… multiplied greatly

and the first posuk of Vayechi;

And Yaakov lived in the land of Mitzrayim for seventeen years…

And we need to understand the gist of the Kli Yekar; that the Sh’vatim, the Am, knowing that they were to be in Mitzriyim for a definite period of time beyond their lifetimes thus perceived a permanence. Therefore, they adapted themselves to living in Mitzriyim long-term and were thus vulnerable to Mitzri “encouragement” to melt, to assimilate into Mitzri society, to work for the nation, etc. The B’nai Yisrael accumulated land, assets, wealth. With the passage of time and with Yaakov and the brothers — the tribal heads all passing from the scene, the Am forgot about their true home in Canaan, in Eretz Yisrael, and became complacent in Mitzriyim. And with the passing of heads of B’nai Yisrael, the Am no longer retained an elevated status in the eyes of the Mitzriyim who quickly forgot how Yosef saved them from famine. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Vayechi 5768: The End of Corruption and Etrogization Begins With Us

moshe

.

Moshe Burt [UPDATED]

This author recalls a commentary by the K’li Yekar (Judiaca Press Chumash, page 600) on the first posuk of Parsha Vayechi which is leyned this Shabbos.

The K’li Yekar explains the lack of a space between the end of the previous sedra Vayigash and our parsha as meaning that the two poskim are understood together. The final verse of Vayigash reads;

And Yisrael dwelt in the land of Mitzriyim in the land of Goshen, and they acquired property in it and… multiplied greatly. read more

Parsha Vayigash 5768: Elusive Jewish Unity and The Boiled Lobster

moshe

.

By Moshe Burt

Parsha Mikeitz records the whole affair between Yosef and the brothers when they came to Mitzrayim to buy food and were accused by the Viceroy of being spies. We learned how after hearing their story and family history, Yosef demanded that they bring their youngest brother to him and incarcerated Shimon as insurance that the brothers would indeed return with Binyamin, their youngest brother. We learn that in the middle of Parsha Mikeitz, with the imprisonment of Shimon, the brothers recognized and attributed their predicament to the sin they had committed earlier by throwing Yosef into the pit and then selling him to the Mitzriyim. Yosef heard and understood their conversation and left their presence to cry silently. (Perek 42, posukim 21-24) read more

Parsha Mikeitz/Shabbos Chanukah 5768: The Miracle of Yosef’s Marriage and Sons

moshe

.

by Moshe Burt

In previous years, this author has written about Yosef’s being thrown in a bor (pit) seething with snakes and scorpions — yet emerging unscathed, his being sold and ensuing journey to Mitzrayim and his slavery, his imprisonment and his liberation and ascendency to the position of Viceroy, second only to Pharoh. And this author wrote a vort based on Jay Shapiro’s book “Almost Midrash.” Shapiro encorporated the story of Yosef into a fictional story entitled “Duaf of Memphis” and this author dealt with the contrast of Yosef in Mitzrayim, the years after Yosef and the other brothers were niftar and the ensuing long period of cruel bondage; and persecution and the dialogue of Page 13 A & B of Gemora Megillah Esther (the dialogue between Achashveirosh and Haman resulting in the evil decree against the Jews). The point of the Torah Vort at that time was that with longevity in Shushan and throughout Achashveirosh’s Empire, as in Mitzrayim, the Jews were disparaged as either useless or too powerful. In both cases, the antagonists conveniently forgot about Yosef and the Jews got comfortable, complacent, sought to own property and saw where they were at the time as home and forgot and lost track of who and what they are. This is a point and lesson which Jews keep having to learn time and again throughout our history, including here and now in our times in Eretz Yisrael in dealing with a cruel, corrupt ruling regime in Medina Yisrael. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Vayeishev 5768: Yosef and the Pit and Our Gush Katif Brethren — Miracles for All Time

moshe

.

by, Moshe Burt

Two years ago, just before Chanukah, a short article appeared on the INN website entitled; “Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” told about the Menorah made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on Neve Dekalim over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many former Neve Dekalim residents, took me back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yaakov was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

Uncategorized