Prayers… work!
The Torah tells of the Jews desperation and anguish when hope seemed lost: וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד...
View ArticleAppreciating Nature
One of the most incredible miracles of all times occurs, the Splitting of the Sea, and it’s conclusion happens the same way it began: וַיֹּאמֶר ה אֶל מֹשֶׁה נְטֵה אֶת יָדְךָ עַל הַיָּם וְיָשֻׁבוּ...
View ArticleFaith and Salvation
As the newly liberated Jews flee Egypt, their former captors gave chase: וּפַרְעֹה הִקְרִיב וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד...
View ArticleA maidservant’s prophecy
After experiencing the incredible miracle that was the Red Sea splitting, the people collectively sang Az Yashir: זה קלי ואנוהו אלקי אבי וארוממנו – This is my God, and I will glorify Him – the God of...
View ArticleThis cannot be how it ends!
As the exodus reaches it’s climax, the Jews are cornered. They are on the beach among the reeds, Red Sea lying in front of them, with the cloud of the onrushing Egyptian army in the distance. Trapped,...
View ArticleIs Matza a quick fix?
Jews eat Matza because our ancestors left Egypt בחפזון – in a hurry, and we recall this by recreating the food that they couldn’t adequately prepare, leaving it in it’s simplest form. That it to say,...
View ArticleWho we are
In the Hagada, one of the four questions asked is that שבכל הלילות, אנו אוכלין חמץ ומצה, הלילה הזה כולו מצה – Why on other nights do we eat chametz and matza, whereas tonight we only eat matza? The...
View ArticleThe significance of the Yamim Tovim
The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (4:28) warns of characteristics that portend man’s downfall: רבי אליעזר הקפר אומר, הקנאה והתאווה והכבוד, מוציאין את האדם מן העולם – Rabbi Eliezer said: jealousy, lust, and...
View ArticlePesach for Pesach’s sake
The Korban Pesach is meant to commemorate the miracle of the Jewish households being “passed over” in Egypt. But why were they ever at risk? The plagues were punishments for enslaving the Jews. If the...
View ArticleWhat does the Korban Pesach signify?
The Maharal observes that all halachos of Korban Pesach pertain to unity; roasted in one piece, the bones have to be kept whole, eaten in one group, in one place, at one time etc. All these are meant...
View ArticleKiddush on Yom Tov
On the kiddush of the festivals, we say the following: דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם מוֹעֲדֵי ה’ אֲשֶׁר תִּקְרְאוּ אֹתָם מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ אֵלֶּה הֵם מוֹעֲדָי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים...
View ArticleRaise a glass
At Kadesh – we drink the first of the four cups of wine. Each cup symbolises a particular highlights of the seder: the first at Kadesh, the second at Maggid, the third at Barech and the fourth at...
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