To speak your mind or not
Thoughts on parashat Vayera.
Menachem Mirski
The Torah portion of this week contains only great and famous stories. We have in it the story of Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah, …
SERMON FOR PARASHAT NOACH
3.6mm per year; this is apparently the current rise in sea level per year... At the end of the Flood story God swears Genesis 9:11) never to bring a Flood upon the …
Too Big, It Must Fail
Toughts on Parashat Noah
This week’s parasha contains two great narratives that are at the foundations of the Judeo-Christian civilization and have inspired people for centuries: the story of Noah and the …
CHOL HAMOED SUKOT
SERMON: BEIT WARSZAWA, SHABBAT CHOL HAMO'ED SUKKOT, 18th. October 2019.
For the Shabbat in Sukkot the rabbis chose as a Torah reading Devarim (Deuteronomy) Chapter 8, which stresses the way in which the Israelites …
Haazinu
'Haazinu' - Deuternomy Chapter 32 - is almost the end of the Torah, the five books, and represents what one might call Moses' 'Swansong' - this term is based on the legend that, shortly before …
Promises, Pledges, Oaths
Thoughts on Parashat Ki Tetzei
When you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not put off fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will require it of you, and you will …
DEVARIM / SHABBAT CHAZON
Rabbi Dr. Walter Rothschild
Each year I read the book 'Devarim' – which we begin this Shabbat - differently. The reason is simple; Each year I am a little older and Devarim is …
Tribes of Israel: Branches of One Tree or Rods of „Divine Fury”?
Thoughts on Parashat Matot-Massei
Menachem Mirski
The opening words of this week’s Torah portion may not seem like an extraordinary statement at first sight:
“Moses …
On the Balance Between Good and Evil Forces. Thoughts on Parasha Pinchas
Menachem Mirski
At the very beginning of this week’s Torah portion God rewards Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, for his zealous act – namely …
Pinchas
Rabin dr Walter Rothschild
The sidra 'Pinchas' starts in the middle of an horrific episode and it starts in a way that is not only surprising, but shocking – God APPROVES of the impetuous violent actions …
KORACH
Rabbi Walter Rothschild
As many of you know by now, I have a very different, very personal way of looking at biblical texts than do the traditional writers of Midrash. It is also important for me …
Force of habit, passivity, fear and their consequences
Artur
Force of habit, passivity, fear and their consequences
Thoughts on Parasha Shelach
Menachem Mirski
In this week’s Torah portion Moses sends twelve spies to the land of Canaan. They come back forty days later, bringing an enormous …
