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Sara imenu – our matriarch Sara – was a woman of unparalleled beauty and spiritual strength, whose power of prophecy was greater, our sages teach us, than that of her husband Avraham. Yet, according to Midrash, she was ultimately felled by an enemy common to us all: the satan who feeds on our own fears and casts stumbling blocks along our way.
Chayei Sara (Genesis 23:1-25:18)
Parashat Chayei Sara is read on Shabbat:
Cheshvan 22, 5772/November 19, 2011
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Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Summary of Chapter Five
The mishnayot progress from the level of performing mitzvoth: “Be bold as a leopard . . . to carry out the Will of your Father in Heaven” . . . to the study of Torah, which is superior to doing mitzvoth. “The reward is in proportion to the exertion,” concludes the chapter with the highest level of all, for our ultimate destiny is the reward of the World to Come.
Torah was not given to angels and they cannot earn reward for they do not change and improve, nor do they earn reward for duress, for they experience no difficulty in performing the will of their Creator.
In memory of Jerry Dean
Why was Avraham Avinu interceding on behalf of the wicked people of the decadent city of Sodom? Was he your typical bleeding-heart liberal who can’t distinguish between right and wrong? On the contrary, Avraham was showing his faith to the one true G-d and to the role that G-d granted him as guarantor of humanity.
Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24)
Parashat Vayera is read on Shabbat:
Cheshvan 15, 5772/November 12, 2011
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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 Book of Genesis: Road Signs for the Children of Israel
Rachel’s Tears, Abraham’s Tests & Us: Restrain Your Voice From Weeping
“Rachel died, and was buried on the road to Efrat, which is Bethlehem. Jacob set up a monument over her grave; it is the monument of Rachel’s grave until today” (Gen. 35)
“Thus said Hashem: A voice is heard on high, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeps for her children; she refuses to be consoled for her children for they are gone…Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears… there is hope for your future… and your children will return to their border” (Jer. 31).
This week marks the passing of our matriarch Rachel, who sheds tears for her children’s exile to this very day. But a visit to the beautiful and moving Rachel’s tomb, just minutes outside of Jerusalem, is a passage into “Palestinian” controlled area, where Rachel’s tomb is now enclosed in a concrete, militarized bunker… for the protection of her children, who come there daily to pray. Who’s crying now? Who’s crying louder, and wailing more bitterly – Rachel, over her children’s exile, or the children, over the degradation, exile and “imprisonment” of their dear mother? Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Richman reflect upon the character of our mother Rachel, her selfless heroism, and the legacy she passed down to her children.
Abraham passed down a legacy as well… in fact, the entire life of Abraham, as well as the other patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel as recorded in the book of Genesis, form an intricate and detailed plan for their children’s future. The events along the road of Abraham’s spiritual odyssey instruct us in what we must do, as well as what we must expect.
Our hosts are joined in the studio by good friends, our special guests Glen and Kevin Harlan of Snyder, TX, who are also on a spiritual odyssey in the Land of Israel, as they seek to connect with Hashem, Torah and Israel on a deeper level.
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“Always the bride’s maid,” the quiet month of Mar Cheshvan will yet have its day in the sun. Our sages teach us that the dedication of the future Holy Temple will be in the month of Mar Cheshvan, but for that to happen, we will need to roll up our sleeves and get serious about making it happen!
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Biblical Faith – with Shmuel “Sam” Peak
Chapter 5
Mishnah 26
Their names reflect the number five, corresponding to the Hebrew letter ה, hei. Among letters it is unsuppressed as a symbol of the spiritual for it is only the intangible strength of the life breath with no physical contribution from the throat, mouth, and lips. Hence, the letter hei expresses the essence of conversion, for a convert leaves the nations of the world and takes on the power of holiness that is the strength of Yisra’el. Indeed, the letter hei was added to the names of Avraham and Sarah when they entered into G-d’s holy covenant.
In memory of Jerry Dean
Avraham Avinu bursts upon the scene of world history, fighting for G-d’s name. Self-titled kings band together to try to take Avraham out and to rid the world of G-d once and for all. But you cannot defeat the King of kings, and being allied to the one true G-d puts our father Avraham in the proverbial catbird seat.
Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27)
Parashat Lech Lecha is read on Shabbat:
Cheshvan 8, 5772/November 5, 2011
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