Torah With A Twist

  In this week's Torah Portion, Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, as the plagues are starting to affect him personally!!   He told them, “plan your exodus, take your wives, take your children, your children’s children, and your herds and flocks of animals, and your belongings, and I shall, “Let YOUR people go!”  They packed, and grabbed their belongings, and started their journey!  A long journey at that.....as we know how the story goes. To this very day, we remember!  WE REMEMBER!   Each and every year, we commemorate in reverence to our survival, our not being under The Pharaoh's rule as slaves!  We have survived, day in and day out.  It is our tribute and remembrance to times of slavery, to times of unjust persecution, to times of severe undue punishment, to times of plague.  We all have experienced persecution some time in our histories/life!  We all must comprehend that labeling facilitates this behavior as does social medi...

  Beshalach      Sweet Lesson In History!    January 29/30,2021 Sweet ; Merriam-Webster.com defines “ Sweet ” as “ pleasing to the taste; (2) : being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations (Bitter,Salt,Sour and sweet) that is typically induced and mediated especially by receptors in taste buds at the front of the tongue.” "They came to Marah, and found the water was not palatable. So, they complained to Moses, and he cried out to G-D, “What shall we drink?!”  G-D said, “Take the tree branch over there, and toss it in the water.”  Moses threw the branch into the water, and…………..the water became “sweet”! Then they came to Eilimah, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters. And the house of Israel called its name manna, and it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey."  Bitter water to that of SWEETNESS from tree bark!? ...........

  Bo – We are finally free, or are we?   In this Torah Portion (Parsha), Pharaoh calls for Moses and Aaron, as the pla gues are starting to affect him personally.    He told them, “plan your exodus, take your wives, take your children, your children’s children, and your herds and flocks of animals, and your belongings, and I shall , “Let YOUR people go!”   They packed, and grabbed their belongings, and started their journey!   To this very day, we remember!   WE REMEMBER!   Each and every year, we commemorate in reverence to, our survival, our not being under The Pharoah’s rule as slaves! This is Pesach (Passover). A tradition that has been carried on for the ages, and shall go on and on, as we survive, day in and day out.   It is our tribute and remembrance to times of slavery, to times of unjust persecution, to times of severe undue punishment. Jewish people from all walks and sects, as well as many Jewish by association celebrate/obs...

  Vayishlach –   It’s the little things that matter…….   In this week’s Parsha/Torah Portion, we read and experience Jacob’s journey back to The Homeland of Israel after being away for 20+ years with his uncle. The story goes something like this…..Jacob lead his family and their possessions on their journey back and crossed the River Yabok, and The Torah details how Jacob was alone, AFTER he returned back over the river…. Why would he leave his family to yet return back? Once he returned, he found himself in somewhat of a confrontation (“wrestling”) with a man over night! That alone might be a deterrent for many, but not for Jacob! The Talmud teaches us, that he realized that a few small jugs were forgotten and left behind.   So, he hiked back to retrieve the jugs/bottles.   Seems so secondary, infinitesimal, and exhausting, but the detail of him returning and retracing his steps to get them shows us the true value of the little things are not so little ...

  Chayei Sarah -  Thanks Mom & Dad! This week's Torah portion is dedicated in Honor of my parents and the example they set; Dear Mom & Dad, Thanks for the road map and example!                      In this week's Torah reading, we read about Abraham and Sarah and their wonderful, amazing  marriage, their true loving relationship, even after Sarah's passing.  She understood things that he did not, and he did things she was unable.  A true partnership, and of true meaning!  They had the value of understanding, balance, tolerance, and honest acceptance of the gifts the other had from within.  This is a true healthy  blueprint  for any and all relationships . In the beginning of this Parsha (Torah Portion), Abraham is purchasing the place for Sarah to be buried, and not only for his beloved Sarah, but a plot big enough for her, and eventually the entire family.  He wanted to be b...

  Lech Lecha - My Name is...and I am proud! G-d is talking to Avram, soon the be “Abraham” : 17:4 "As for Me, here is My covenant with you; you shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” 17:5 Velo-yikare od et-shimecha Avram vehayah shimcha Avraham ki av-hamon goyim netaticha. No longer shall your name be called Avram, but your name shall be Avraham (Abraham), for the father of a multitude of nations I have appointed you." 17:6 I will make you most exceedingly fruitful, and make nations of you; and kings shall descend from you. 17:15 And G-d said to Avraham "[As for] Sarai your wife, do not call her by the name Sarai, for Sarah is her name. Some very strong themes: Man loves woman, woman can’t be fruitful, woman leaves , an affair of sorts(Bridges of Madison County-esque), she wants him back, he walks with G-d, they conceive of course, some sinister twists and turns occur…………circumcision is introduced as a sign of the covenant to G-d. An awesome and beautiful locati...