Vayeira 5784
Vayeira תשפ"ד This week’s portion, Vayeira, is the fourth portion in the Torah and at this point it has been over 2000 years since Hashem created the world. Regarding the 2000 years that have passed, the Torah has shared…
You Think an Atom Bomb is Bad? Parshas Lech Lecha 5783
Little Boy, the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, used one hundred and forty one pounds of enriched uranium to produce its big bang. With improved technology, today’s nuclear bombs can be created with thirty five pounds of Uranium-235 or even…
Parshat Lech Lecha 5784
Parshat Lech Lecha תשפ"ד This week's portion introduces us to Avraham Avinu, Avraham our forefather, who was so dedicated to Hashem that he made it his life’s mission to teach the world about Him. Hashem, in turn, loved Avraham so…
Let’s Talk About Harvard
Parshas Noach
It’s well known that getting accepted into the NYC Sanitation Department to work as a garbage collector is significantly more difficult than getting into Harvard University. About 90,000 people apply each year for the prestigious position of NYC Sanitation worker…
Parshat Noach 5784
Parashat Noach תשפ"ד When introducing us to Noach, the Torah carefully tells us (Genesis 6:9) that Noach was a צדיק - a completely righteous person. ט) אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו 9) These are the offspring…
Let There Be Light
Parshas Bereishis 5784
This week has been an overwhelming week for the Jewish people. From the devastation and anguish of witnessing the most horrific attack on our people since the Holocaust, to seeing so many around the world celebrate the pain of our…
Parshat Bereshit 5784
Parshat Bereshit תשפ"ד Last Shabbat– (Shemini Atzeret morning), the world woke up to the news that Israel was under a deadly attack. Hamas staged a major uprising. Entering Israel from Gaza, they murdered, in cold blood, nearly 1,000 soldiers, policemen,…
The Library of You
Parshat Vayechi 5783
I used to think that the entire California was one big meeting ground for urbane, progressive sophisticates, the type that ate braised youngberry frites, used venti as a vocabulary word, or listened to world fusion music while drinking organic wheatgrass martinis. While…
The Power of the Parsha: Vayechi
Thursday Lunch and Learn | Rabbi Leiby Burnham
Parshat Vayechi 5783
Parshat Vayechi תשפ"ג This week’s portion is the portion of blessings. In it, our forefather Yaakov bestowed blessings upon Yosef’s two sons, Ephriam and Menashe, and on all of his own sons, the 12 Tribes of Israel. It is striking how…