by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Sep 5, 2016
The parasha opens with the command to appoint judges and law enforcement officials without which a society will disintegrate into chaos and eventual oblivion (Devarim 16,18):
Appoint judges and law enforcement officials for each of your tribes (gates) in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly.
It is unusual that the verse uses the singular tense “lecha” when the plural “lachem” is more appropriate, since the command focuses on the nation’s leadership in all generations who are vested with the authority to appoint public officials.
I submit that the verse is directed not only to the nation’s central authority, but to each individual; that he or she should see their pure Jewish conscience as their judge (shofet) to discern between right and wrong, together with their ability and willingness to implement the decisions of their conscience (shoter).
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Aug 29, 2016
The Medina is in need of positive forces of love and optimism for our future. Forces that join together in defense of the land and toil to strengthen our security, as well as our economic and political independence.
The Medina is not in need of negative, critical and undermining elements which would weaken the fabric of our society.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Aug 23, 2016
Friday of last week, we commemorated the festive day of the 15th of Menachem Av, which as stated in the Mishna (Ta’anit) as one of the two happiest days in the Jewish calendar year, the other being Yom Kippur.
The Talmud Yerushalmi in Ta’anit states that the 15th of Av is a joyous day for several positive things that occurred on it, one of them being the edict proclaimed by King Hoshea ben Elah of the ten northern tribes. The Gemara explains that on this day King Hoshea ben Elah rescinded a decree prohibiting the Jews of the northern tribes to go up to Yerushalayim.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Aug 18, 2016
Aisav, the man of the field, discarded the responsibilities that come with being a firstborn, selling it for a pittance. He returned from the field so tired that he implored his brother Ya’akov to feed him lentils. The details were a drag on him. Just give him the pleasures without the effort.
Aisav is the spiritual father of the breakaway, rebellious movements within Judaism which seek to destroy its progenitor, as a cancer cell kills its host.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Aug 10, 2016
During the three weeks between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Menachem Av, 1946 years ago, a hand-to-hand battle raged between the soldiers of Rome and the Jewish defenders over every meter of hallowed ground in the walled city of Yerushalayim. It took the Roman Tenth Legion – superior in number and weapons, and led by the infamous Titus – three weeks to defeat the Jews who entered the battle already sick and famished. It took the Romans another 32 days to advance a distance of 150 meters from the Temple Mount to today’s Jewish Quarter, illustrating the ferocity with which our forefathers fought in defending the Holy City.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Aug 3, 2016
Christine agreed to marry Mendel on the condition that he convert to Christianity and change his name to Matthew, which he did. On the morning after the wedding, the newly christened Matthew was about to don his talit and tefillin when his loving, devoted wife said to him: “Matthew, did you forget that you’re now a Christian?” With great chagrin Matthew cried out, “Oy, Goishe kop” (someone who fails to use his/her head, a non-Jewish head).
With every gentile nation to which the Jewish people have had the misfortune to be exiled, there exists a query regarding the political and religious leadership: are their leaders more evil than stupid, or more stupid than evil?
