Why we read Bamidbar before Shavuot. From Moshe Kempinski Ezra the scribe decreed that in the weekly reading of the Torah portion the portion of Bamidbar (in the wilderness) would always precede the festival of Shavuot ( Pentecost) the festival commemorating the revelation of G-d at mount Sinai. Why was it thought to be important … Read more
By: Moshe Kempinski Miracles and faith have an uneasy ongoing relationship. Faith must be engaged and be continued even in the absence of miracles. Yet our relationship with our Creator yearns for the occurrence of Divine intervention in our private and national lives. We must learn to walk a walk of faith that is not … Read more
Moshe Kempinski World Leaders would do well to listen to recordings of the radio broadcasts that were aired prior to the Six day war. This was prior to the formation of the 1967 lines precedent that they and the present american administration seems to rely on. This was before Judea and Samaria, the biblical heartland … Read more
Shorashim Insight into the News,( Moshe Kempinski) At a meeting in Washington, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with top Arab League officials to discuss the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. This Saudi proposal that has been on the table for a long time proposes the 22 Arab countries normalizing ties with Israel in return … Read more
Moshe Kempinski In the Torah portion of Emor we return to the topic of the biblical festivals. Those same festivals are discussed as well in Shemot ( Exodus:23)and in Devarim (Deuteronomy:16) . Yet in this portion ,the Chagim ( festivals) are described with two terms that do not appear in the other two sections. ” … Read more
Fear, awe, love of G-d, as we feel closer we realize just how far away we are. From Moshe Kempinski You shall be holy for I, G-d, your G-d am holy. (Leviticus 19:1) What then is the essential nature of that holiness that G-d demands of us? Holiness can best be described as a state … Read more
Moshe Kempinski He wanted to share our joys and troubles. We are entering the days of celebration for the establishment of the State of Israel, followed three weeks later by the day celebrating the reunification of Jerusalem. Around us, the world gathers their weapons and brandishes their swords at us and at each other . … Read more
Moshe Kempinski ( le-refuat Yehudit bat Golda Yocheved The first word of our parsha ( Torah portion) is impactful and instructive. “And it came to pass ( VaYehi) on the eighth day (9:1). The word Vayehi reveals much. Traditionally the word “VaYehi” relates to concern and woe .In fact our sages teach that this word … Read more
