REGARDING THE L.A. FIRES
GIVE TZEDAKAH TO SUPPORT L.A. Jewish Communities who lost their shuls; provide support for the Los Angeles greater community in need. Donate to the Rabbi’s Discretionary Fund and write: FIRE in the note.
LEARNING IN HONOR OF THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES OFFICERS WHO NEED STRENGTH AND FORTITUDE
The Talmudic passage we started in Talmud Class this past Wednesday night (Sugiya 8 of 66) relates to when a conflagration breaks out on the Sabbath. We dedicated our learning to all those who need strength and blessings after the destructive fires.
For the video of the Talmud Class of Jan. 15 click HERE.
Now for parsha – every few weeks I have an entry in the Torah column in the LA Jewish News. For Table for Five click HERE. Mine is one of five entries. Either click through and read them all or just mine, here:
On the verse: The Egyptians ruthlessly imposed upon the Israelites
the various labors that they made them perform. Ruthlessly they made life bitter for them with harsh labor at mortar
and bricks and with all sorts of tasks in the field.
-Ex. 1:13-14
It was not just Pharaoh who imposed back-breaking labor on the Israelites. Egyptians were guilty. From a political history standpoint, they are a stand-in for political entities that treat Israel harshly. Both the political class and everyday citizens were implicated. The end of Genesis stated a hope that Jews would be able to live peacefully in Diaspora communities. The beginning of Exodus teaches that even when we are granted legal rights to live among nations of the world, the Jewish soul knows that we must keep a vigilant watch. And throughout history that has been the case. Jews were granted charters, but then were expelled from lands and kingdoms time and again. There was a Holocaust; imposing back-breaking, free labor was central to Nazi evil. Even as the comity of nations recognized the Jewish State entire nations try to embitter our lives. Hearing our Torah’s tale inspires us to rise and defend ourselves. History teaches us to be resilient. Today, Jews labor and build community in the Diaspora and in the Holy Land as our ancestors did in the time of Nehemiah. We assemble with Jerusalem Stone bricks and lift our weapons of defense — military and legal. As it is written: “Those who built on the wall, and those who carried the burdens, loaded themselves in such a way that with one of his hands each labored in his work, and with the other hand he held a weapon” (Nehemiah 4:11). We do not wallow in victimhood; we will not be embittered – Am Yisrael Chai.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Bolton