by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 2, 2015 | Lifeline
Just before Purim, a non-Jewish woman asked me about the holiday. After I explained a little bit about Haman and his plan, she asked, “so Hitler wasn’t the first?” They really have no idea. We read in the Haggadah, “for not only one has risen...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Mar 27, 2015 | Lifeline
I have commented many times that “Let My People Go” must be the most famous half-quote in the Bible. Exodus 7:26 reads as follows: “And G-d said to Moses: Come to Pharoah, and say to him: So says G-d: let My people go, and they will serve Me.”...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Mar 20, 2015 | Lifeline
The Book of VaYikra, Leviticus, begins with an unusual phrase that seems redundant: “And He called to Moshe, and G-d spoke to him from the tent of meeting, to say.” Why does G-d first call to Moshe before speaking to him? Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Mar 13, 2015 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, Moshe gathers the entire nation to instruct them in the building of the Mishkan, the Sanctuary. He says, “these are the things which G-d has Commanded, for you to do them.” [Ex. 35:1] And then he immediately talks about not...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Feb 27, 2015 | Lifeline
Here we are, at the Shabbos preceding Purim, and what are we going to read about? Lighting the Menorah! Of course, the Torah reading concerns the lighting of the original Menorah by Aharon and his descendants in the Tabernacle and Temple, but it’s still somewhat...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Feb 13, 2015 | Lifeline
Did you know that the city of Chelm truly had wise men? Or that the stories of “The Wise Men of Chelm” were old fables, deliberately cast upon the Rabbis of Chelm to belittle its Sages? This week’s Torah reading comprises a long list of Commandments....
