THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Beshalach – פרשת בשלח January 30, 2021 – יז שבט תשפא This essay is dedicated by Richard Hochman in memory of Abraham Albert Hochman Z”L. Traveling on the Sabbath Judaism has long recognized legal limitations on the distance one may travel...
Secrets of the Hebrew Calendar Two weeks before the Exodus, God instructed Moses and Aaron regarding reform of the Israelite calendar: “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.” (Exodus 12:2). Thenceforward, months were to be known by their ordinal numbers. The spring month of...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Va’era – פרשת וארא January 16, 2021 – ג שבט תשפא Fearing the Lord’s Word Speaking in God’s name, Moses warned Pharaoh that a heavy hailstorm, the likes of which Egypt had never seen, was about to hit the country. Moses further admonished...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Shemot – פרשת שמות January 9, 2021 – כה טבת תשפא Take off your Shoes As Moses approached the Burning Bush, God warned him: “Do not come closer. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Vayechi – פרשת ויחי January 2, 2021 – יח טבת תשפא This essay is dedicated in memory of Dr. Miklos Weinberger Z”L. Issachar and Zebulun Among Jacob’s sons from Leah, Issachar was the fifth and Zebulun the sixth (Genesis...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Vayigash – פרשת ויגש December 26, 2020 – יא טבת תשפא Jews and Military Service Upon his family’s arrival in Egypt, Joseph arranged a royal audience for his brothers (Genesis 47:2). Commenting on the words מקצה אחיו “a few of his...