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Beit Midrash
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both descend into slavery in Egypt, but then be gloriously redeemed from there as well (15:13-16).
Yet there is a later message from Hashem to Avram that is somewhat perplexing. "And G-d said: ‘I am el Shadai, walk before Me & be perfect (17:1). The "walk before Me" clause we understand: If Noach walked with G-d, then Avraham was to be more pro-active, a leader of humanity & not a follower. But what does it mean to "be perfect?"
Rashi comes along & offers a tantalizing Medrash: "Walk before Me with the Mitzva of Brit Mila," he says, "and by doing this you will be perfect." In other words, by removing a part of his body – something other cultures, like the Greeks, would clearly consider a defect, a handicap – Avraham & his offspring would actually be adding to their holiness & rising to a level of perfection.
The message being sent here is profound: We live in a world where the goal seems to be perpetually amassing more & more things. A company is judged each year by how much its profits have grown since last year; we know the famous saying, "Whoever dies with the most toys, wins."
But while it’s certainly true that we must continually grow in spirituality & increase our connection to Hashem, there are times, says the Torah, when less is more & losing is winning. And so we actually gain each time we give away some of our hard-earned money in Tzedaka; we advance in wisdom & in the eyes of others when we say less; we increase our credibility, & certainly our humility, when we confess that we simply don’t have all the answers; & we enhance our integrity when we defer & sometimes give in - even when we know we are right! - & let the other person win the argument.
I suggest this is why Hashem chose to employ one of his less-frequently used names, "El Shadai," when making this particular statement to Avram, as opposed to the more common name "YKVK," which He uses in all the other instances. By tradition, the name "El Shadai" means, "the G-d who said ‘Di – enough!" That is, when Hashem created the world, He knew when enough was enough, when to stop. He created the seas, but said to them, "Enough! Stop! Any more & you will overrun the land! And so it was with the forests & the vegetation & the animal kingdom; they could not grow ad infinitum, either. They, too, had to be "cut off" (pun intended), so that the world would be just perfect.
A beautiful message of Mila – particularly apropos now that we have begun reciting "Mashiv HaRuach u’Morid Hagashem – is that when we lower the physicality, the Gashmiut, our Ruach, our spiritual side, returns in greater intensity.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
