What Are We To Learn From The Shechem Massacre? The lesson here is twofold: personal and national. However, before we dive into those two lessons, I want to remind you of two quotes that encompass the two lessons, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?” (Bereishit 34:31), and “Then they travelled, and the fear… Continue reading Part Two: The National and Personal Lessons We Learn From the Story of Shechem
Author: David Sheyman
Part One: The City of Shechem and the Case for Collective Punishment
Summary of the Story Parsha Vayishlach is filled with numerous important events. However, I would like to focus on a one that pries at our modern sensibilities: the story of Shechem. Allow me first to give a small summary. Yaakov temporarily settled before the city of Shechem. Dinah, his only daughter, went out to meet… Continue reading Part One: The City of Shechem and the Case for Collective Punishment
Avraham, Sodom, and Yitzhak, How the Three Are Connected
Introduction In Parsha Vayera, “the LORD said (to Avraham), ‘The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave! I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has reached Me; if not, I will take note.’” (Bereishit 18:20-21) Avraham, then proceeded to plead… Continue reading Avraham, Sodom, and Yitzhak, How the Three Are Connected
Cunning and Subjectivity
In Parsha Bereishit, we find a very interesting episode. Chava is convinced by the serpent to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. She then proceeds to tell Adam that he should try the fruit, and now, we schmegegges get to dwell in this crazy world. We could be prancing in the Garden of Eden, but because of… Continue reading Cunning and Subjectivity
The Iron Bandaid
Every land is owned by those who acquired it. When a land is conquered, no one questions to whom the land belongs to. What was the last time someone seriously proposed that California belongs to Mexico? If California belongs to Mexico, then we must factor in the fact that the Spanish who established the country… Continue reading The Iron Bandaid
Vengeance
There is an article called, “The Revenge We Are Waiting For” on The Jewish Press, an interesting read by Shmuel Sackett. I appreciate Mr. Sackett's intention and desires, but I would like to respectfully disagree with him on his approach. I believe that a thorough analysis of this article could glean a lot of wisdom… Continue reading Vengeance
Choosing the Torah
Two Jews converse, one secular, the other observant. What’s the difference between the two? Is one a better Jew than the other? These are all questions that may pass through a Jew’s mind, along with whether they have called their mother that day, whether they should eat matza ball soup or gefilte fish, and what… Continue reading Choosing the Torah
Parshat Terumah
In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Terumah, Hashem tells the Jewish people exactly how to build the Mishkan, the portable, temporary structure which we carried through the desert. “And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst” (Shemot 25:8). This may be one of the most detailed portions in all of… Continue reading Parshat Terumah
Yosef, Benyamin, and Yehuda: How their Relationship Informs Am Yisrael Today
Introduction One has to wonder if there would ever be an end to the conflict brewing in our homeland, Eretz Yisrael. So many wars have been fought, so many agreements have been made, so many options have been tried. Yet perhaps we are missing the mark. Perhaps, this conflict is not a typical controversy that… Continue reading Yosef, Benyamin, and Yehuda: How their Relationship Informs Am Yisrael Today
A Flame for the Generations
Part One: The Story of Chanukah A little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. We hear that phrase a lot during Chanukah; the Jewish festival of lights. It’s a time to receive gifts (or give gifts if you are a parent), enjoy fried donuts and latkes, and light the candles of the… Continue reading A Flame for the Generations
The Singing Soul 