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Archive for Kislev / Tevet 5774 - December 2013
When Yaakov was reunited with his beloved son Yosef, he understood it as the confirmation of G-d’s Oneness, and recited the Shema proclamation of G-d’s unity. His twelve sons would later reconfirm G-d’s Oneness by reciting the Shema, as Yaakov prepared to reveal to them his vision of the end of days. By this very affirmation of G-d’s Oneness in our world, Yaakov fulfills the promise of his other name, Yisrael, and his children, throughout the generations, fulfill their role as witnesses to G-d’s abiding and eternal unity.
Vayechi (Genesis 47:28-50:26)
Parashat Vayechi is read on Shabbat:
Tevet 11, 5774/December 14, 2013
Temple Institute Links:
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Temple Talk is a weekly internet radio webcast with Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven of the Temple Institute.
This week features:
Cycles of Celebration and Mourning in the Holy Temple Calendar
The Tenth of Tevet, Jerusalem and Jewish Siege Mentality: It’s All in Our Heads
As we conclude the book of Genesis with this week’s Torah reading of Vayechi, we prepare for the annual fast of the Tenth day of Tevet, to be observed this Friday, commemorating the siege of Jerusalem by Babylonian king Nevuchadnezzer that ultimately led to the destruction of the First Temple. Isn’t it rather odd that just days ago we were celebrating the re-dedication of the Temple during Chanukah, and now we are back to mourning its destruction? How do we understand this cycle, and the transformation from the joy of Kislev to the mourning of Tevet? After soloing Temple Talk for a full month, Yitzchak Reuven welcomes his co-host and army comrade Rabbi Chaim Richman back from his US speaking tour. Reunited at last, our hosts take a sobering, realistic look at the Kislev-Tevet Regression and Jewish siege mentality!
Temple Institute Links:
Program Link – Website – Support – Newsletter – Contact Us
Temple Talk is a weekly internet radio webcast with Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven of the Temple Institute.
This week features:
Chanukah: Uncompromising Non-Warm Non-Fuzzy Defense of Torah
Yosef & His Brothers: Who is ‘Fessing What & Who is Forgiving Whom?
‘Tis the season of confrontation: Yosef squares off with his brothers, Yehudah and the Maccabees square off with the Greek oppressors and the Hellenizers from within, Israel squares off with the United States over its policy of detente with the genocidal regime of the Iranian ayatollahs, and Jewish worshipers on the Temple Mount square off with violent Muslim mobs.
No sooner did the Maccabees defeat the Greeks than the scourge of Hellenization began its return. No sooner do Yosef and his brothers reconcile than Pharaoh begins to impose the rules of exile. The harsh but crucial lesson: We must always be vigilant in our devotion to G-d and our love of the land of Israel.
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The seismic shocks, the tectonic rumblings, the pulsating magnetic fields could all be felt from one end of creation to the next when Yehudah drew near to Yosef in their battle for custody of Binyamin. Neither brother was willing to abandon Binyamin and that’s what G-d wanted to know! When Yosef revealed his true identity to Yehudah and the others, they all realized that they could lay down their arms: It was all in G-d’s hands!
Vayigash (Genesis 45:28-46:7)
Parashat Vayigash is read on Shabbat:
Tevet 4, 5774/December 7, 2013
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