Parashat & Current Events | Rabbi Nachman Kahana

Va’ye’chi 5775

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.

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?

Miketz-Chanuka 5775

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.

Vayaishev 5775

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.

Vayishlach 5775

by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Dec 3, 2014

Shimon and Levi annihilated the residents of Shechem for failing to bring Shechem ben Chamor to justice for what he did to their sister Dina.

What was behind this seemingly excessive, disproportionate “Goldstonian” reaction by two nice Jewish boys?

Vayaitzai 5775

by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Nov 27, 2014

Rage is the reaction of normal people. That’s the way human beings are wired when a loved one is murdered. It is sanctioned by the Creator but channeled by Halacha to be implemented only when the murderer is outside a city of refuge.

Last week we were traumatized by a terror act of unadulterated hate by two Arabs who went on a pre-planned rampage of wanton murder in a bet knesset in the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim. They murdered four Jews in the middle of their prayers and wounded 7 more. It is not the Zionist who is being targeted, it is the Jew.