This week, we begin the book of Shmot (Exodus) and the narrative of the Egyptian exile and servitude. Rabbi Sacks writes of the need for the our nation to be born out of slavery:
Egypt was the Jewish people’s school of the soul; memory was its ongoing seminar in the art and craft of freedom. It taught them what it felt like to be on the wrong side of power. “You know what it feels like to be a stranger,” says a resonant phrase in Parshat Mishpatim. Jews were the people commanded never to forget the bitter taste of slavery, so that they would never take freedom for granted. Those who do so, eventually lose it.
As such, we are called on to follow the lead of Moses “who went out to his brothers, and he saw their suffering” (Exodus 2:11) by giving over “his eyes and his heart to suffer along with them” (Rashi). As we track Moses growth and life, we learn that we become strong when we care for the weak and we become invulnerable when we care for the vulnerable
Perhaps Moses understood the words of this anonymous poet:
“I sought my God and my God I could not find
I sought my soul and my soul eluded me.
I sought my brother to serve him in his need,
And I found all three—my God, my soul, and thee.”
Let’s take the message to heart and Shabbat Shalom!
As we begin a new book in the Torah and a new calendar year, it is always a good time to increase in additional Torah study. Here are a few resources and easy ways to do so:
- Daily inspiration (on Whatsapp) from parsha and current events by Sivan Rahav Meir (3 minutes)- sign-up HERE
- Daily Mitzvah- learn about a different mitzvah every day- get the app HERE or subscribe HERE
- Daily Tanach- join HERE
- Mishna a Day (15 minutes)- join HERE
- The Power of speech- 4 options to choose from (3-5 minutes)- click HERE
- Daily Inspiration on whatsapp- click HERE
- Laws of proper speech on whatsapp- click HERE
- Mizrachi 2-min inspiration from the daily Talmud page- join the WHATSAPP group HERE
- Rabbi Steinsaltz Daily Talmud Page Summary (5 minutes/day)- click HERE
- Shulchan aruch/Mishnah Brurah daily (15 min/day of halacha/Jewish practice)- sign-up HERE
- Set up a weekly 15 minute chavruta (learning partner) with Rabbi Bergman on a topic of your choice
Virtual Classes and Davening
Thursday at 4:30 pm – Judaism’s Life Changing Ideas
Friday Kabbalat Shabbat at 4:00 pm (Candle Lighting: 4:41 pm)
Saturday Havdallah at 5:55 (Shabbat out 5:47)
Sunday at 10 am- Contemporary Issues from a Jewish Lens- Exploring Modern Orthodoxy
Tuesday at 1 pm- Parsha Class