Reverend Brodie's thoughts - past and present.
שבת פרשת וישב
No parades, fireworks, speeches.
The emphasis is on the Menorah
restoration of the Temple Service
freedom to practice Judaism.
Rabbi Dr Twerski
שבת פרשת וישלח
“Yaakov was greatly afraid of Esav …”
(Bereishit 32.8)
So he took practical measures for self-defence ...
and then he prayed.
Vayeitzei
“… beware that you speak to Yaakov
neither good nor bad”
37:24
Good that emanates from the wicked is inherently evil
Rabbi Dr Twerski
שבת פרשת תולדות
Shabbat Parshat Toldot 5771
“ … And Esau’s two wives
were a source if bitterness
to Yitzchak and Rivka”
(Bereishit 21:35)
Exposure to wickedness in one’s childhood
lowers the threshold of disapproval
“ Serve the L-rd with joy …”
Tehillim 100
Happiness is one of the things
that doubles when you share it
Harry Lauder
שבת פרשת וירא
Shabbat Parshat Vayeira 5771
“… There is no fear of G-d in this place
and they will kill me …”
Bereishit 20.11
Where there is no fear of G-d
even murder can be rationalised
שבת שובה
Parshat Haazinu
Shabbat Shuvah 5770
The most severe exile is a Jew alien to himself
for he is both captive and captor.
Reb Shollom of Belz
יום כפור - Yom Kippur 5771
“Shema Koyleynu …”
(Machzor)
Pray hard for yourself, your Community and Klal Yisroel
because individually and collectively
we desperately need Hashem’s help
סוכות - Chag HaSukkot 5770
Hashem caused us to dwell in booths
to be appreciative of everything given to us
Rabbi Dr Twerski
שבת פרשת נח
Shabbat Parshat Noach 5771
“You are my witnesses says Hashem …”
(Yeshayah 43.10)
A witness of some sort every Jew born is bound to be.
for good or evil, he adds his evidence
to the record, and makes a Kiddush Hashem
or the reverse
לך לך פרשת שבת
Shabbat Parshat Lech Lecha 5771
“… Walk before me and be perfect”
Bereishes 17:1
A slip of the tongue
is the truth of the mind
שבת פרשת בראשית
Shabbat Parshat Bereishit 5771
Torah is the divine teaching
given to Israel
and the message of Israel to mankind
(Chief Rabbi Hertz)
שבת פרשת ואתחנן
“And you shall not covet …
anything that belongs to your fellow”
(Devorim 14:18)
People will forget what you said
but will never forget if you envied them.
שבת פרשת דברים
“Do not fear them,
For Hashem will fight them”
(Devorim 3.22)
Hashem, our only reliable protector.
Nitzavim-Vayelech 5770
“And you shall return to the L-rd your G-d …”
(Devorim 30.2)
“If not now, when?”
Pirkei Avot 1.14
שבת פרשת עקב
“… there Aharon died
… and Elazar his son
ministered in his place”
Happy is the man whose son succeeds him in holiness
“… in order that it will be well with you
When you do what is good and right …”
(Devarim 12.28)
In between the lines the Torah
spells out good conduct beyond the 613 Mitzvot.
שבת פרשת שופטים
“When you come to a city to wage war
you shall call out to it for peace”
(Devarim 20.10)
Israel longs for peace.
שבת פרשת כי תצא
“If you build a new house
you shall make a fence for your roof …”
(Devarim 22.8)
By extension, we are to prevent any mishap.
תבוא כי פרשת שבת
“…bring first fruits…”
(Devorim 26.1)
No matter how much sweat we invest
everything is a gift from Hashem.
שבת פרשת מטות?מסעי
Shabbat Parshat Matos-Masei 5770
“If he pushed him out of hatred …..”
Bamidbar 35:20
You can disagree
but you do not have to be disagreeable
“… Behold a people that dwells alone …”
(Bamidbar 23.9)
Bilam’s prophecy – a blessing or a curse?
Certainly true!
שבת פרשת פינחס
“ … One lamb you shall offer in the morning
and one lamb in the afternoon”
(Bamidbar 28.4)
A lesson in consistent Judaism.
שבת פרשת חקת
Shabbat Parshat Chukat 5770
“The King of Arad
attacked the Children of Israel”
(Bamidbar 24.1)
He had the courage to do so
because Aaron,
the champion of peace and amity
had just died
שבת פרשת קרח
Shabbat Parshat Korach 5770
“…for all the Congregations are all holy ...”
(Bamidbar 16.3)
In fundamental contrast Hashem commands
“you shall be holy” not “you are”
שבת פרשת שלח לך
Shabbat Parshat Shelach 5770
“… and they shall make themselves Tzitzit”
(Bamidbar 15.38)
A three year old is introduced to Holiness
שבת פרשת בהעלתך
Shabbat Parshat Behaalotecha 5770
“And the rabble lusted lusting …”
(Bamidbar 11.14)
Deliberately placing oneself into temptation
is the triumph of the Yetzer Harah
“And Hashem came down upon Sinai …”
Shemot 19.20
The choice of the lowest mountain for Matan Torah
teaches that humility is the pre-requisite
for the study of Torah and the development of Midot.
שבת פרשת במדבר
“They shall camp around the Tent of Meeting” Bamidbar 2:2
All are equidistant to the Mishcon in the centre.
בחקתי שבת פרשת בהר
Literal Translation: On the Mount – My statutes
Torah from Sinai is immutable.
שבת פרשת אמר
Nine Tzaddikim don't make a Minyan,
Ten sinners do.
Ten Tzaddikim is a nucleus of a Holy people.
שבת פרשת אחרי מות קדשים
Literal translation: After death – Holiness
But do strive for a LIFEtime of Holiness
שבת פרשת תזריע?מצורע
Sefirat Haomer is a daily process for seven weeks.
Spiritual elevation can be achieved
only by progressing one day at a time.
(Rabbi Dr Twerski)
Neshamot of
Six Million Holocaust Martyrs
deserve ONE Yahrzeit light
in EVERY Jewish home
שבת פרשת צו
Shabbat Parshat Tsav 5770
“Acquire for yourselves a lamb for your families…”
(Vayikra 12:21)
שבת פרשת שמיני
Shabbas Chol Hamoed 5770
Not only is consumption of Chametz forbidden
but it must be removed from sight.
Likewise we have to rid ourselves of bad habits so as to prevent relapse
שבת פרשת ויקרא
Shabbat Parshat Vayikra 5770
The word Vayikra is written with a diminutive Aleph,
which represents our small children
whom Hashem calls to ensure our eternity.
שבת פרשת ויקהל- פקודי
Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel Pikudei 5770
"Every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands…”
Shemot 35.25
How is how the Yiddishe Mama builds her home
שבת פרשת כי תשא
Shabbat Parshat Ki Tisah 5770
“The children of Israel
shall observe the Shabbat
to make the Shabbat…”
Shemot 31.16)
Being aware of Neshamah Yeterah
makes it into a blessed experience.
שבת פרשת בא
Shabbat Parshat Bo 5770
“… if your son will ask you …”
Shemot 13.14
Be sure to find a better answer
Than “because I say so!
שבת פרשת בשלח
Shabbat Parshat Beshalach 5770
Tu Bishevat
Acknowledge Hashem’s
ongoing creation
by celebrating
the renewal of nature
שבת פרשת משפטים
Shabbat Parshat Mishpatim 5770
“Distance yourself from falsehood …”
(Shemot 23.7)
Note: Not merely “you shall not lie”
but “keep a distance …”
שבת פרשת יתרו
Shabbat Parshat Yisro 5770
“You shall not murder …”
(Shemot 20:13)
Failure to defend your fellow men
is murder by default
שבת פרשת תרומה
Shabbat Parshat Terumah 5770
“and they shall make me a Sanctuary
that I may dwell among them”
(Shemot 25.8)
שבת פרשת תצוה
Shabbat Parshat Tetzaveh 5770
“…There is a People, scattered among the nations …”
(Megilat Esther)
Scattered, but united by a shared Torah destiny.
שבת פרשת וירא
Shabbat Parshat Vayeira 5770
“… if I find 50 Zadikim in Sdom
in the midst of the city
I shall forgive …”
(Bereishit 18:27)
Zadikim can only save Sdom
if they operate in the midst of the city.
שבת פרשת שמות
Shabbat Parshat Shemot 5770
Pharoah: “… Israel is too mighty from us”
The Jews’ wealth is taken from us
Is classical anti-Semitism.
שבת פרשת ויחי
Shabbat Parshat Vayechi 5770
“And Yaakov blessed Yosef …
may the angel bless the boys …”
(Bereishit 48.15/16)
We are truly blessed by Nachass
from the next generation.
שבת פרשת ויגש
Shabbat Parshat Vayigash 5770
“… Ani Yosef …”
Bereisheit 45.3
Two words provided the answer
to a history of strife and anguish.
so will “Ani Hashem”
explain our chequered history.
Chofetz Chaim
שבת פרשת מקץ
Shabbat Parshat Mikeitz 5770
“… let them store the food of the good years…”
Bereishit 41.35
Identifying the problem
AND
finding a solution
must be the correct
interpretation of the dream
שבת פרשת וישב
Shabbat Parshat
Vayeishev 5770
Shabbat Chanukah
The Shabbat and
Chanukah Lights
Anytime in creating
a very special ethos
of Miraculous Serenity.
שבת פרשת וישלח
Shabbat Parshat Vayishlach 5770
“Yaakov became very scared …”
(Bereishit 32.8)
Despite Hashem’s promise
of Yaakov’s safety
he feared Esav’s devoted
Kibbud Av
could tip the balance
in his favour
שבת פרשת ויצא
Shabbat Parshat Vayeitzei 5770
“And Yaakov lifted up his legs
and went on his way …”
Bereishit 28:1
His dreams on Moriah
spurred him on his way.
שבת פרשת תולדות
Shabbat Parshat
Toldot 5770
“Avimelech to Yitzchak”
(Bereishit 26:29)
Avimelech expects gratitude
for not hurting Yaakov
when he drove him away
"… Yitzchak took Rivka for a wife and he loved her …”
(Bereishit 24.67)
Far more important is the love after marriage than the romance before.