
“Hineni – Here I am!” – without question or condition, full of readiness for self sacrifice, to go beyond the call of duty, to perform the word of HaShem. This is the response of Yosef to Yaakov’s instruction to him to seek out his brothers in Shechem , and this guileless willingness to throw himself whole heartedly and without reservation into G-d’s great plan for mankind in order to do his part – this is what distinguishes Yosef from his brothers at the outset of Vayeshev , and this is what propels him to a position of great prominence and power in the land of Egypt and the royal court of Pharaoh.
Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23)
Parashat Vayeshev is read on Shabbat:
Kislev 24, 5773/December 8, 2012
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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:
The UN, the Vatican, and the Eisav/Yishmael Alliance
The Nations are Angry: Building Jewish Houses in Israel is ‘Counterproductive’
Temple Talk is back! After a break of several weeks, Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Richman join together again in Jerusalem in a brand-new, fast-moving, evocative and passion-filled episode of Temple Talk. Our hosts reflect on their experiences earlier this month at the Temple Institute’s 25th Anniversary Gala held in Dallas, TX, and review recent events in Israel and abroad through the prism of the current Torah readings. Connecting the dots, Yitzchak and the Rabbi move deftly between Yaakov’s confrontations with Eisav, Operation Pillar of Defense, recent United Nations obscenities and as usual, the vilification of Israel at the hands of the nations. Just as Yosef had to descend to Egypt to prepare for something big, it’s all part of the plan of Redemption!
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Yaakov avinu’s (our forefather Jacob’s) midnight encounter with a mysterious angel: Who was this angel, what was his purpose, and by what name was he known? Yaakov overcomes the angel, and by doing so gains insight into all these questions. He also acquires for himself a new name, a new identity, and a new role to play in establishing the Divine presence here on this earth.
Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43)
Parashat Vayishlach is read on Shabbat:
Kislev 17, 5773/December 1, 2012
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Yaakov our patriarch laid his head down on the site of the altar upon which Yitzchak his father had been bound, and rose up with the knowledge that this was the very place from which Avraham had declared, “G-d will be seen.” This is the Temple Mount of today, and it is incumbent upon the children of Yaakov/Yisrael that the One True G-d is seen from this place.
Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3)
Parashat Vayeitzei is read on Shabbat:
Kislev 10, 5773/November 24, 2012
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The work of the patriarchs, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov was to establish in this world an eternal bond between man and G-d. Toldot chronicles the struggle for supremacy between two radically different approaches toward leadership: the way of Yaakov, and the way of Esav. Esav excelled in so many ways he seemed a natural for the part. And after all, he was the first-born. There was but one thing missing from Esav’s understanding of life: the fear and the acknowledgment of G-d. Forever stymied by his own egotistical take on life, Esav languished, while Yaakov assumed the mantle of leadership.
Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9)
Parashat Toldot is read on Shabbat:
Kislev 3, 5773/November17, 2012
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Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Emunah channel is here. For Info www.torahfaith.org
Reflection on creation means becoming aware of the spiritual and physical elements of this world; its causes and effects; its rational and non-rational creatures; its inert and active materials; its animate objects and plants; its higher and lower parts; and realizing that the Creator, May He be exalted, assembled and ordered the world perfectly, divided it along clear lines, and made it such a way that it points to Him and reflects Him, just as a work of craftsman reflects the craftsman who created it, or a house the builder who built it. You should know that the whole world is made up of the material and the spiritual, so intimately mixed and fused that each of them sustain the other, like body and soul in living creatures.
In memory of Nancy Wheeler
Program Link – Read the Torah w/Shmuel – Contact – Emunah Channel
Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Emunah channel is here. For Info www.torahfaith.org
We are bound by Rabbinic tradition to reflect on creation n the following statements: “Whoever knows how to calculate the astronomical cycles and stars and does not do so, of him Scripture says: “They have lyre and harp, timbrel and flute and wine at their feasts, and they do not notice HaShem’s works, they do not see His handiwork’ (Yeshiyahu 5:12)…From where do we know that one is obligated to calculate the cycles and stars? From the verse ‘Keep them and do them, for this is your wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations who will hear all these rules’ (Devarim 4:6) — what wisdom and understanding is ‘in the sight of the nations’? Say: it is the calculation of cycles and stars” (Shabbot 75a); “Consider the cost of mitzvah against its reward, and the gain is sin against its loss” (Avot 2:1); “If the Torah had not been given to Yisra’el, we could have learned modesty from the cat, chastity from the dove, good manners from the rooster, and honesty from the ant” (Eruvin 100b).
The obligation to reflect on the created things and deduce proofs from traces of wisdom has been demonstrated.
Be aware of this!
In memory of Dr. Elbert G. Peak (Avraham ben Chanah Leah)
For the healing of Rabbi Yisrael Aerial of the Temple Institute.
In honor of Rabbi Chaim Richman of the Temple Institute.
Program Link – Read the Torah w/Shmuel – Contact – Emunah Channel