by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Jan 14, 2015
In last week’s parasha Shemot, Moshe demands that the Jews be allowed three days of freedom in order to worship HaShem, and Paro reacts by creating an impossible situation. The raw materials necessary for the slaves’ labor would be withheld, yet they would be expected to maintain the same levels of production. Moshe expressed his deep disappointment at this turn of events by lamenting before HaShem the fact that he had been chosen for this failed mission.
This week’s parasha opens with HaShem rebuking Moshe for being impatient with what he viewed as HaShem’s departure from His stated goal of freeing the Jewish people. HaShem informs Moshe that retribution for the Egyptian cruelty to the Jewish people would now commence.
All periods in our history when Am Yisrael saw the hand of HaShem in our salvation, were similar to the exodus, in that they were preceded by moments of trepidation, anxiety, even despair.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Jan 7, 2015
It occurred on the day in the year when Paro would host ambassadors of many nations, who would crown him with honors and lavish him with gifts.
Moshe and Aharon entered without difficulty when Paro thought that they too came as ambassadors of a nation.
Paro: “Who do you represent?”
Moshe: “The Holy One Be He”
When Paro saw that they were not bearing gifts, he asked: “What do you want here”?
Moshe: “Thus has God commanded, ‘Let My people go!”
Paro: “I do not not recognize your God. I will not send the Jews away. But wait. I wish to search in my list of gods the name of your deity.” Paro began reading off names of the deities: “The god of Moav, the god of Amon, the god of Zidon, etc. Paro then said to Moshe and Aharon, “I have covered all the deities; yours does not appear, so he does not exist”.
Question: The Book of Dieties was compiled by the wisest of Egyptian theologians. So why was the name of HaShem, Creator of heaven and earth, totally absent?
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Dec 31, 2014
It should not come as a surprise that the Mashiach will be from the “House of King David” and not a product of the guilt-ridden galut world outlook afflicting us today.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Dec 24, 2014
At the end of parashat Va’ye’chi, we learn of a baffling encounter between Yosef and his brothers. They prostrated themselves before Yosef and reminded him that their father, Ya’akov, had warned him not to seek revenge. To this, Yosef answered, “Ha’ta’chat E-lo’kim ano’chi!” — “Am I God’s messenger (agent) in this matter?!”
Question: Where do we find in the Torah that Ya’akov told Yosef not to enact punishment on his brothers?
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Dec 16, 2014
There are entities and concepts which are inherently bi-polar (marked by opposite extremes).
A toxic substance when used in proper dosage can restore one to good health, but when abused can cause death.
Compulsion or desire (yeitzer) when directed in the service of HaShem uplifts a person’s soul and brings him to Gan Eden. But when the yeitzer is used to satisfy one’s egoistic gratification, his soul feels downtrodden, debased and degraded, paving the way to Gehennom.
Even Torah possesses this duality. The Gemara (Yuma 72:b) states that for one who abides by the Torah “lishma” (for the proper reason of keeping HaShem’s laws) the Torah is an elixir of life, but for one who practices the Torah “lo lishma” (for the wrong reasons) the Torah is an elixir of death.
Chutzpa is another example of such behavior. When performed properly it becomes a virtuous act of courage and valor, but when used improperly it is no more than brazen audacity, disrespect, impertinence and shameless presumptuousness.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Dec 11, 2014
Alongside the great unforgettable centers of Jewish life such as: Pumbedita of Bavel, Fez of Morocco, and Vilna of Lithuiania, Am YIsrael can now boast of one more star in the guise of the picturesque Izinga Estate on the ridge of Umhlanga, a charming coastal village to the north of Durban South Africa.
Izinga has all that a God-fearing Jew could ever want. A fenced 20,000-square-meter development with luxury homes, a spectacular 350-seat synagogue, a modern Jewish day school and kollel, a state-of-the-art auditorium and function hall, a kosher kitchen and mikveh, sports facilities and more.
