by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Nov 12, 2015
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
In a broad sense, all of us are contemporaries of the personalities in this week’s and last week’s parshiot.
Last week’s parasha, Chayai Sarah, ends with the death of Yishmael. This week’s parasha Toldot begins with the birth of Ya’akov and Eisav. These three personalities and their descendants were and are the major “players” in world history – the Jewish nation, Christians and Moslems.
The three met in their lifetimes. Yishmael was 79 years old when Avraham died, and he came together with Yitzchak to bury their father, as is recorded in parashat Chayai Sarah. Yitzchak must have certainly brought his two sons, Ya’akov and Eisav, to their grandfather’s funeral where they met their Uncle Yishmael.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Nov 4, 2015
Our rabbis have taught that HaShem put Avraham Aveinu through ten tests. The ninth was the “binding of Yitzchak” (akeidat Yitzchak) and the tenth, the negotiations between Avraham and Efron the Hittite for the purchase of Ma’arat Ha’machpela as a burial site for Sarah.
Logic dictates that each succeeding test increases in difficulty. The question arises: what was the focus of the final test set before Avraham which caused it to be more difficult than the Akeida.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Oct 29, 2015
Have you ever experienced a flash flood in one of the Negev’s wadis (a deep gully in the desert)?
It is an awesome experience and often deadly.
The sky darkens and it begins to rain. One hears an approaching train travelling at 300 kilometers an hour; however, there are no trains in the area. Suddenly a gigantic wall of water comes racing through the wadi, uprooting everything in its path, from trees to cars to trucks. If you are standing in the middle of the wadi at the time, you will soon become part of the Dead Sea. In no time the channel is filled and the water leaps over the banks spreading out over the desert floor in every direction.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Oct 20, 2015
In the staccato noise and cadence of ongoing events in Lech Lecha, one might easily overlook a character who stealthily appears in the background, like a seemingly bit-role actor among the more recognized stars; while it later becomes apparent that he is the dominant character in all the events.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Oct 14, 2015
Until now the monarchy was in the hands of Shaul from the tribe of Binyamin, whose great righteousness and military skill protected the nation. But now the king is dead and the monarchy will be transferred to the tribe of Yehuda. So it is imperative that the sons of the tribe of Yehuda and all the other tribes who will constitute the monarchy of the House of David excel in the art of war, just as Yehuda was blessed by Ya’akov prior to his death.
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Oct 7, 2015
Who or what is “Elokim”? What is His nature? Is he loving, caring, or is He angry, zealous, spiteful, vengeful? Is he demanding, never forgiving our iniquities? Are human beings valuable and necessary in His eyes?
There is an ongoing battle between Islam and Christianity, each of whom claims over one billion adherents, regarding the nature of God. They do not believe in the same God, to be sure; because their Gods differ in the extreme.
