by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 29, 2013 | Lifeline
Chanukah is one of only two celebrations added to the Jewish calendar by the Rabbis, the other, of course, being Purim. Rabbi Yosef Karo points out that unlike Purim, which has an obligation for a celebratory meal and rejoicing, Chanukah is about singing praises and...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 21, 2013 | Lifeline
When Yosef’s brothers see a caravan of Arab merchants coming towards them on its way to Egypt, Yehudah suggests that they sell him — because as Reuven had asked, they did not kill him, leaving him instead in a dangerous pit. The convoy itself is identified...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 8, 2013 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, Yaakov works for his father-in-law, Lavan, for fourteen years, in return for the privilege of marrying Lavan’s two daughters. Then he goes to Lavan and says, I have a family to feed as well, so I need to make some money for myself...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 25, 2013 | Lifeline
In this week’s Torah reading, Avraham sends Eliezer back to his family in Haran, to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. Eliezer prayed, describing the person he was looking for very simply: when I ask her to bring down her pitcher for me to drink, she will respond...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 4, 2013 | Lifeline
What is the lesson of the Great Flood? We read this week that the world became so corrupt and evil that the only way forward was to start over. G-d sent the flood because “the earth had corrupted itself before G-d, and the earth was filled with violence.”...
