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“Since the day that the temple was destroyed, Hakodosh Baruch Hu has nothing in His world but the four amos of halacha.” (Berachos 8a) 

I told my chavrusa (study partner) that learning Gemora is the “ultimate humbling experience.” 

This week’s Torah portion describes events encompassing tremendous contrasts: fear and triumph, peace and war. After the Children of Israel miraculously break free of Egyptian slavery, we fall into contention with our redeemer, Moses, and are immediately confronted with our nemesis, Amalek. 

It was 10 pm. I had just left an appointment. I was a few blocks away from the grounds of my old school, where, in the ancient days of my former life, I had met my wife when we were both teenagers. I drove up to the entrance and stared at the buildings. I sat in the car and wept. 

“I … have heard the wail of the children of Israel whom Egypt enslaves and I have remembered My covenant.” (Exodus 6:5) When we are suffering and cry out to Hashem, He will rescue us. 

As the Book of Exodus open, the Children of Israel descend into Exile in Egypt. Not that they were not in Egypt already, but now darkness descends upon them. We have said goodbye to the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, and now we say goodbye to the generation of Jacob’s children, as we read: “Yosef died and all his brothers and that entire generation.” (Exodus 1:6) 

“Assemble yourselves and I will tell you what will befall you in the end of days.” (Genesis 49:1) These are Yaakov Avinu’s (our Father Jacob’s) prophetic words to his sons as he prepares to leave this world. 

“Ani Yosef … I am Yosef.” The brothers’ mouths drop open.  

Dreams play a major part in our history. Our Father Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching up to Heaven; Joseph dreamed of future redemption.  

Immediately after the brothers sell Yosef, we read about the incident with Yehuda and Tamar (see Genesis Chapter 38). This is one of those unlikely incidents in which the Children of Israel descend to a low and even embarrassing level, from which we rise incredibly to great heights. Our entire history is logically “impossible!” It is built on miracle after miracle. 

Two weeks ago we contemplated the epic struggle between our Father Jacob and his twin brother Esav. I would like to focus on this more intently, because it concerns us both individually and nationally. 

My friends, I don’t think we are allowing ourselves to understand the gravity of world events. If we would contemplate what is happening, then our davening would be different and every thought would be directed toward personal, national and world survival. 

As anti-Semitism heats up throughout the world, it is vital to focus on its origins, which are right here, in our Parsha. “The children agitated within her, and … Hashem said …‘Two nations are in your womb, two regimes from your insides shall be separated. The might shall pass from one regime to the other and the elder shall serve the younger.’” 

“How did Avraham discover the Cave of Machpela? He was running after a calf, as it is written, ‘Then Avraham ran to the herd,’ (Genesis 18:7) The calf fled into the cave [and] Avraham followed it …. Also, he used to pray every day and go out into the field, from which wafted sublime fragrances. He saw a light coming from that cave and prayed there and the Holy One Blessed is He spoke to him there. Therefore, he desired that cave….” (Zohar 1:127a) 

About twelve years ago, my wife and I accompanied my late father when he was honored by President George W. Bush for his outstanding collection of contemporary American art. Before going to the White House, I said to Hashem, “I want to make a kiddush Hashem and speak to the President about the return of Am Yisroel to the Holy Land.” 

This year, on Shabbos Shuva, there was a sudden rainstorm in the Holy Land, followed by a spectacular rainbow. Hashem says in our Parsha, “I have set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth…. and the water shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.” 

Soon, in the secular calendar, it will be 2020. Over a decade ago, I wrote a book entitled “2020 Vision.” For better or worse, things are shaping up pretty much as described in the book. 

“Achos katana … The little sister…. She prepares her prayers and proclaims her praises. Oh 

I actually enjoy going to the dentist. Maybe it’s Bina, the amazing hygienist, who tells me divrai Torah as she cleans my teeth. 

As I write, it is Rosh Chodesh Elul, the first day of the Month of Elul. 

As I write, we are still mired in the crisis generated by the New York State Board of Education’s attack on our yeshiva system. It is not just New York. I saw a recent note regarding a Chabad school in Florida, where the regional public schools are threatening to close a program in which hundreds of Jewish children have used school facilities for over a decade. And what about England? Why are we being threatened around the world? 

Our parsha opens with the word, “re’eh… See.” Why is this word needed?  

The Satan is pushing against us. As King David says, “You pushed me hard that I might fall, but Hashem assisted me.” (Psalm 118) 

We have made it through Tisha B’Av and we are still alive. 

Recently I was driving through a checkpoint at a United States military base. I did not see any guard, so I proceeded slowly forward. Suddenly there was a loud bang on the rear window. A military policeman stepped out of the shadows and started yelling. He wasn’t interested in hearing that I hadn’t seen him. 

We have reached the end of the Book of Numbers (Sefer Bamidbar in the Torah) and the culmination of the travels of the Children of Israel through the Desert. The Holy Nation is gathered on the Plains of Moav, across from the Eastern border of the Holy Land, poised to cross the Jordan River. 

How does one merit “bris shalom … [the] covenant of peace?” (Numbers 25:12) 

 Bilaam was a novi.[1] A novi can give unique service to Hashem. His task in life is to transmit Hashem’s will and thereby elevate the entire world. But, like every opportunity, it is a two-edged sword. Spiritually-powerful people need humility in order to ensure that they use their power properly. Who was more powerful than Dovid Hamelech? Yet Dovid says, “I am a worm.” (Psalm 22) 

 
Why is a human corpse the basic source of impurity? 

How could Korach and his followers have rebelled against Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses)?