The Weekly Mission- Torah Portion by Isaiah Rothstein

Weekly Mission: Parshat Mishpatim The essential point that we learn from our experience at Mt. Sinai is expressed through Moshe’s actions. In this week’s Torah portion, we read that Moshe ascended and descended the mountain continuously. We, the Jewish people, were in awe of receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai: the smoke, lightning, thunder and the loud shofar blast. Surely we cannot assume that Moshe continuously ascended and descended the mountain in order to burn off calories from the Pesach matza . We cannot assume that Moshe ascended and descended because “he felt fat.” In next week’s Torah portion, we read about the inauguration of the Mishkan ( Tabernacle). The Divine presence dwelled within the Mishkan , but it is referred to as resting “in them ” not “in it ,” showing us that the Divine presence is within every Jew. The Mishkan travelled with us through pain and suffering, drought and famine, and even wars. Throughout all of our experiences, the Mishkan was our source...

Parshat Miketz (Chanukah), We have light! My holy friends, many of us are familiar with the Jewish people’s incessant struggles throughout history. Chanukah is one of the reminders of our nation’s grueling past. The Jewish people were oppressed and murdered for expressing their spirituality, and as a result, people hid their passionate hearts. Many Jews were also persuaded by the precious “gifts” that the Greeks had to offer and a spiritual genocide began. “Few against the many,” the Jews stood up for their passion. They were not willing to sacrifice their relationship with G-d and the Hashmonayim fought for victory. The ashes of the Holocaust still float in the air, leaving many Jews feeling abandoned by G-d. We sometimes say, “If there is a G-d, how could something so tragic happen?” As a nation, we have been through hell on earth and we have entered yet another exile. We were sold into slavery and were uncertain regarding our destiny as a people. But then, light emer...

Yaakov’s role in the Torah has seemingly now been placed on the back burner, so-to-speak. As the Torah states, he is now a man who is “settled.” He fulfilled his mission of bringing the 12 tribes into existence, essentially the progenitors of the Jewish people. Joseph was someone who Yaakov loved dearly. Yaakov invested more time into Joseph than he did for his other sons. Joseph stayed close with his father and learned the secrets of HaShem’s world with him. As we see in this week’s parsha, Joseph, like the other leaders in the Torah, quarrels with his brothers. Joseph provokes his brothers by telling them his dreams, which indicate that they will one day bow down to him. This bothered them greatly, and thus, they sold him into slavery. Joseph is sold into slavery and then sent down to Egypt. (Please note, this is a very simple summary of this story--- there is a lot more to be discussed and analyzed further). While in Egypt, Joseph, like the rest of our forefathers, was blessed with ...

Weekly Mission: Parshat Vayishlach In this week’s Torah portion, Yaakov’s journey continues. Yaakov left his father’s house as an attempt to save himself from Esav. He was broke, alone and uncertain, but Yaakov continues, enduring many more tests, and he prevails. He returns to his father’s house with his wives, children, excessive livestock, and peace (relatively) with his brother Esav. The extent of Yaakov’s greatness is portrayed in a small but important story that also demonstrates today’s unfortunate truth about our great nation. With G-d’s help, however, we can build ourselves up as individuals, so we can collectively settle in harmony. “Yaakov was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn” (32:25). As Yaakov’s family settles for the night near the Jordan River, Yaakov crosses back over the river in order to retrieve forgotten utensils. The midrash points out that when Yaakov crossed over, he was greeted by a shepherd. This...

Parshat Vayetzei In today’s day and age, Jews come in all different “shapes and sizes.” In this week’s parsha, we learn about the holy conception of the twelve sons of Jacob, later called the 12 tribes. The children of Rachael, Leah and the two maidservants were all born with different attributes, different opinions, different outlooks and different ways to be a Jew, but they were still united as the twelve tribes, different, but very much the same. As the story progresses, we learn more about our matriarchs and patriarchs. For example, we see one of Yaakov’s (Jacob’s) very important attributes, that permeates his relationship with G-d, Rachael and Leah, and his uncle Lavan, and his self-understanding as well. Like I always say, we must try to understand who these great people were in order to know why must follow in their footsteps. Yaakov was a very strong-willed person who took action when necessary. He fled from his father’s house to escape Eisav’s murderous hand. He left his comf...

My first question is how come turkey and stuffing go so well together? In this weeks parsha we learn about the famous Kinyan (transaction) between Jacob and Esav for the status of first born. We learn about the sibling rivalry of the brothers that eventually led to Jacob fleeing for his life. Above all, there is one specific thing that we are constantly learning in the Book of Berieshis that keeps me thinking: "I am the God of your father Abraham, fear not, for I am with you, I will bless you and increase your offspring because of Abraham my servant" We are incessantly reminded by HaShem that we are going to forever inherit Aaretz Yisroel (Israel) and that we will always be in existent. HaShem constantly blesses our forefathers but then the obvious question is why? I mean don't you think Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov could get the hint after hearing it once? A life lesson… We are constantly confronted with hardships and struggles in our lives… sometimes things don't ad...

Weekly Mission: Parshat Chayie Sarah I remember when I was in Israel I was more concerned with the girls I met then the friends I had. If a met someone new, I always asked myself “could this be it? Is she the one?” It began to get to a point where it was emotional torture for me. Rabbi Yehoshua Paltiel from Lev HaTorah already specialized in Love and Marriage, so I figured he would be the right man to talk to. Upon telling him my situation, he quickly responded with an analogy. Imagine an intersection with stop signs at all four corners. You are going east and your soul mate is going south. The goal is for both of you to meet at exactly the right moment at that stop sign. My Rabbi continued with saying, if one is going to continuously pull over to the side of the road, he loses momentum and speed, he is not focusing on himself or what he needs, but what he thinks he needs. When the moment comes that you reach the stop sign, your soul mate has already been and gone. If one were to focus...