Living with the times with Rabbi Yehuda

Does History Repeat Itself?

The story of the middle Matzah provides insight into this and provides the clue to how we can celebrate our Heritage despite the challenges that have befallen our nation this past year.

Next Year in Jerusalem!!

Why is this year different thank all other years?

Yes, it’s different. We’ve had an extremely challenging year but the secret of Jewish survival is embedded in the Passover Seder. We don’t pretend that life is perfect, to the contrary— but we do receive the strength to power on as we connect with the Almighty G-d who continues to take us out of Egypt!

Shemini - The Eight Day!

Things don’t happen overnight — not even for Moses and Aaron. Lessons from the greatest leaders, applicable for us all in our lives!

Vayakhel:

It’s a grand address and the response is overwhelming. The nation of Israel step forward with absolute generosity of heart and creativity of the soul to create an abode for G-d. It’s a magnificent Parsha — after all, constricting a house for G-d at its core is a magnificent opportunity!

Ki Tisa — The relationship between G-d and the Jewish nation graduates to the next level. No less than the worst blunder by the people to G-d is perpetrated but the ways of Hashem are the ways of forgiveness. And what doesn’t kill you — makes you stronger — in this case, literally!!

Terumah:

Contribution from the heart. We have social responsibility, communal responsibilities, taxes and fees but ultimately when it comes to G-d’s contribution and the way we live our lives — the generosity of our hearts is what’s encouraged. Opportunity vs responsibility is the way to create a true abode for the Divine!

Mishpatim: With the receiving of the Torah comes Divine guidance on how to live our lives. Guidance that doesn’t change from generation to generation as ethics and morals are constant. So what does the Torah say about self defense? About the ethics and morals of war? This Parsha has insight on that!

Parshat Yisro:
Jethro — the father in law of Moses joins the Jewish people. What prompts him to join and what innovation does he suggest the revolutionizes the system of wisdom and transmitting of the Torah? Listen to discover…

Beshalach— Exodus!

Pharaoh’s resistance finally breaks. But not totally — regret sets in. Really? 10 plagues not enough to convince him? Some applicable lessons to us each of how to let go and to allow faith to guide us!

Parshat Bo — THE exodus

Ten plagues, many warnings, miracles galore — Passover!! There’s a lot here but the parsha pauses and we get informed of the first Mitzvah that Hashem instructs Moshe. Create a calendar by calibrating and consecrating the new moon… whilst time management is important — the first mitzvah seems to underscore yet a deeper message!

Parshat Shemot

This week we kick off the next book of the Torah called Exodus. The parsha is full of heroism, leadership and selflessness. Moses bursts onto the scene and the fledgling family of Yaakov transition into a people!

The great showdown between Jacob and Essau after many decades takes place in this Parsha. There is much we can learn from this to apply to our lives. The strength and clarity of Jacob is one that has been bequeathed to his children — the Jewish nation!

Parshat Toldot

The miraculous nature of the founding father’s and mother’s continues to unfold. Indeed, our very existence is one that transcends nature — a very timely lesson for today’s day and age!!

Parshat Toldot

The miraculous nature of the founding father’s and mother’s continues to unfold. Indeed, our very existence is one that transcends nature — a very timely lesson for today’s day and age!!

Parshat Vayera

The Jewish way!
Abraham at the height of his pain — having just circumcised himself at 99 years of age — is standing at his tent to welcome in guests. We glean two important Jewish behaviors from this story.

Lech Lcha — the third Parsha in the book of Breishit:

The promise and Divine gift of the Land of Israel to Abraham. It wasn’t easy even from the start but Abraham’s faith was rock solid and his mission was clear. To bring goodness and light into this world — a mission that’s been handed down through the Jewish nation throughout the ages!

How can one rise above the stresses of life? Navigate all those elements of life that are overwhelming?
This parsha shares the key to it all!

The peak experience of the year takes place on Yom Kippur. Listen to this podcast to gain deeper Kabbalistic insight to the essential power of the day that each of us experiences.
It’s powerful. It’s unique. It’s transformative. It’s Oneness like never before!!

A day of judgement and a day that we coronate G-d as King. This duality is so powerful as it’s not judgement in the sense of judging for punishment rather an audit that we are all passed through in order that each of us can better ourselves and transform this world the way the Divine intention was and is!!

It’s up to each of us to step up and to do so with joy!

Ha’azinu

Our relationship to this world is both physical and spiritual. But who are we really? Physical with some spiritual or rather spiritual beings with some physical?

In this parsha we gain great insight into how we can be “one” people and at the same time retain our individuality without one contradicting the other!
A perfect message pre Rosh Hashana!

Appreciation!

Do we appreciate all the blessings we have? Are we verbalizing and expressing it enough? Parshat Ki Tavo has some insight!

The Eternal Resting Place - Jerusalem

A new code of conduct was to be instituted upon entering the Land of Israel. No longer a free-for-all manner of conduct, in specific matters.. listen and enjoy!

Addressing your inner fear and avoiding the pitfalls!

Ultimately, success can be derailed by forgetting one thing. Moses calls it out and says it the way it is!

But I Deserve It!

How do you pray? Are we deserving of all the we receive? Moses in this week’s Parsha gives us insight into how to approach the Almighty G-d taught by the ultimate teacher - Almighty G-d himself.

What Now?

We start the book of Dueternonomy. Moses has a lot to share during the last week of his life. But his messaging is different than before.. Listen on to hear why!

Last Minute Business:

It’s been forty years of wandering through the desert. There is last minute business to take of. Yet there’s also a last minute snafu. It’s smoothed out yet the message we can derive is a powerful one!

Passivity vs Pro activeness. There’s a time to not do and a time to do…Who is Pinchas? Where did he get his strength from? The proof is in the pudding and of course in the podcast!!

Passivity vs Pro activeness. There’s a time to not do and a time to do…Who is Pinchas? Where did he get his strength from? The proof is in the pudding and of course in the podcast!!

Getting Water From A Rock! Usually an expression of impossibility yet not in this Parsha. Not without drama of course. After all, life is always full of surprises!

Discord in the desert! The uprising against Moses and Aaron never seems to leave. Yet we get to see how great leaders respond when being challenged!

How vs if - the key question to successfully navigating G-d’s mission to each of us. Yet easier said than done. The story of the spies illustrates the blurred lines.

Second chances. We all love them. Yet it takes our initiation and sincere regret to trigger a fresh opportunity. G-d paves the way for second chances by granting a “second” Passover!!

Is all work created equal?
In life we look to attain goals that make us feel good, sometimes we even overlook the obvious signs from above that screams to us where to be and what to do…. Humility is the key and discernment is the tool that makes this all so obvious!

It’s all in the details or is it?
Depends. If they’re divine - absolutely. If it’s about logic, then perhaps the details aren’t as important and are debatable. Let’s explore!

THE moment. THE purpose of it all…. This Parsha is critical to understanding why G-d did all that he did and what we need to do too… understanding our essence helps us navigate our lives. It also provides us with the tools to get it done!

The exodus is progressing well until the Egyptians have second thoughts. But the path of Jewish nation is blocked by water… nothing is too much for G-d and it all comes down to the reaction of the one experiencing. How to respond in crises…. Crises averted and they continue to travel. The destination? The story unfolds…

And they lived happily ever after. Or did they?
Well, let’s first fill in the rest of the story….
This parsha transitions us to the next phase of the journey of the Jewish nation. The eternal journey - one that each of us - pick up and perpetuate.

Moses’s leadership is on high display as he pushes back in dialogue with G-d. As in all cases G-d has a plan. The exodus is not merely the act of taking the Jews out of Egypt, rather it’s the signs and lessons that become obvious that there’s a greater hand and more Divine hand at play. An idea that’s contested by Pharoah and Egypt but that doesn’t hold up for too long…

Egypt started off good but quickly turns problematic. Pharaoh is threatened by the growing and successful nation. Servitude is his answer. G-d via Moses is the response. Moses is appointed leader despite his resistance to it, his first assignment is a total failure….

From the generation of the Patriarchs to the generations of the children - the baton is passed on. Jacob passes on as does Josef but the story doesn’t end… it’s now our story.. it’s our journey….

Vayigash - Whether ouch or yay we are where we are for a reason. Joseph at the peak of his power and career has a message for each of us. Are we hearing it? Hear this podcast and then work on the answer.

Mikeitz

The rise and the climb to the top must not distract us or divert us from our Jewish responsibilities. It can be done regardless of where we are. The two sons of Joseph are an illustration of that!

Rising to the top!
Despite adversity and challenge - we learn from this Parsha that we must forge on and continue to contribute goodness!

Showdown!
Esau is heading to Jacob with quite the army. Yet Jacob is ready to take him head on. We too can endure and prosper if we take Jacob’s example and lead!

Parshat Vayatzei

Retaining our core identity despite the challenges and adversity that exists.

Jacob takes the high road and as a result we are here today.

We sometimes mix up “life” and “living”. We all arrive to live well but are we always focused on the enduring aspects called “life”? This parsha gives insight and inspiration!

Abraham teaches us and bequeaths to us the Jewish standard as he’s instructed to leave his homeland, birthplace and that of his father, to the land that G-d will show him.

Noach ~ The saga continues. Who is Noah and what can we learn from him? The Torah’s timeless message to each of us in our mission in this world.