Moses
Good leaders enter the Promised Land. Great leaders teach people how to find the Promised Land on their own.
‘The water-drawn,’ Moses was not your predictable leader. Moses grew up in the home of a pharaoh, lived in obscurity for a large portion of his life, and only formerly began his leadership at the tender age of 80. Moses had difficulty articulating. Moses transcended speech and was the humblest man to ever live. Moses was married to Tziporah, a daughter of a Midianite high priest named Yitro. The Divine Presence would speak through the Moses’ throat. Moses led the Jewish people from the slavery of Egypt to the borders of the Promised Land. Everything Moses did was driven only by what was best for the people, even arguing with God on their behalf. Moses passed away right before the people entered the land, but not before he taught them how to live.
The Visionary and the Builder
Vision alone can remain abstract and unfulfilled ; building without vision is aimless. First we need the voice of the visionary and then we need to balance it with the voice of the builder.
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The Face of G-d
From overhearing the conversation between G-d and Moses in Parshat Ki Tissa, we learn how to have a true intimate relationship with our Creator.
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The Anatomy of Fear
The only answer to the invisible power of fear – the fear of being alone – is to recognize that you are not alone.
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Shmot: The Stutterer
In Parshat Shmot, Moses is revealed to be the first stutterer. Yet, he overcomes this challenge to become G/d’s communication channel to the world.
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Self-Styled Spies
In Parshat Shelach, the distinction in wording between “spies” and “scouts” makes all the difference in understanding the tragedy of the Twelve Spies.
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Land and See
One of the greatest tragedies of Jewish history was the debacle of “The Spies” in Parshat Shelach. The spies failed their mission: it all came down to sight
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Lamps and Lives
The verses in Parshat Beha’alotecha specify two laws of the menorah corresponding to two visions of man provided by Rashi and Nachmanides.
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Korach: Why Do We Need Leaders?
‘Why do we need a leader’ is the precise theme of this week’s Torah portion. Korach challenges Moses to an important question about the need for leaders.
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Supernal Real Estate
An exploration of the laws pertaining to bar mitzra, the neighbor whose land borders your own, and the correlation to G-d’s giving of the Torah to man.
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Although I am not Jewish, I always enjoy Simon Jacobson’s material. I am terribly dismayed to see that so many people can not look past the “religion” to see the deep, complex universal teachings that are practically relevant to every human life. I have learnt so much from this amazing modern scholar!
-Ismiallh