Shemot
When did Jewish identity begin? When we entered Egypt. You can see that from the very title of this week's parsha: Shemot—which means "Names"—begins with our descent into Egypt. Identity begins when identity is first challenged.
That's why this week we're presenting you a few perspectives on Jewish identity: The Rebbe's insight into G‑d's own I Am, an essay by our parsha editor, Mendel Kalmenson, concerning Moses' mysterious name and identity, a few relevant facts from Menachem Posner about the meaning of the a name we have been called for a long time—"Hebrew"—and an incursion into Sigmund Freud's own identity as a Jew by Jonathan Sacks.
As we said, who you are has a lot to do with where you fit in, so you might want to sit back and watch Moshe Bryski's talk on the journey through life, read what Aron Moss has to say about life with mental illness, have your existential angst turned inside-out by Tzvi Freeman or revisit Egypt without leaving the present day with Levi Avtzon.
The rest I'll let you explore for yourself. Men, don't gloss over The Power of Woman section in this week's magazine—there's plenty in there you'll need to know. Always our most popular section, Judaism How-To deals with Shabbat, the Kippah, Prayer and Circumcision. Some great stories this week for your Shabbat table, and a few parenting tips that will help there, too.
It turns out that the name the Torah elected to call its key player was the one given him by Pharaoh's daughter... Why?
What does the word "Hebrew" mean? And how did that become the name of the first Jews?
It appears in his last book, Moses and Monotheism, and for some reason his commentators haven't noticed it.
Every soul journeys down into this world with two suitcases. One is full of challenges; the other, the talents and strengths necessary to overcome them...
It's easy to feel like orphans to this cold universe--to the elements and forces that shrug indifferently at the drama of being human…
Make use of your mental Photoshop program, and insert yourself into the picture. You will be experiencing the drama of Egyptian slavery. Ready?
"They will say, 'What is his name?' What shall I say to them?" Moses asked at the Burning Bush. What is the meaning of G-d's elusive answer?
Is too much information harmful? Dangerous even? Deadly? How do we draw that very fine line between protection vs. suppression?
Meheitavel’s secret, and the secret of every woman is the ability to infuse order into a world of total chaos...
The Israelites were redeemed from Egypt in the merit of the righteous women of the generation
One of the lights Mother kindled each Friday night was for me. The full impact of this did not occur to me until many years later…
Traditionally, Jewish men and boys wear the kippah at all times, a symbol of their awareness of a "higher" entity.
Suddenly you realize that something has been missing all these years…a circumcision.
The man looked silently around the room, walked to a corner and just stood there, staring at the Baal Shem Tov.
A tremor passed through his body. "Whatever happens," Rabbi Leib said with finality, "I must do something."
He suddenly realized that his pockets were still filled with wads of money from that day's dealings...
She’s quirky, but yourself you call strange, weird. You say that she is strong-willed and independent. Yourself you call stubborn. Her creativity you praise, but yours you say gets in the way of getting things done. Honey, you are judging by a double standard . . .
About twenty years from now, as they deal with their kids in the morning, after school and at bed time, your children will sound like you. Will that be a good thing?
Emunah (eh-moo-na): A knowing, deep in the soul, that there is only one G-d, that He is good, and that He loves you unconditionally.
Simchah (sim-kha): A mighty current of life-energy felt when contemplating emunah.
Bitachon (bi-ta-khon): A surge of invincible confidence that emerges when emunah is challenged by circums...
