Jewish Ledger
Torah Portion – Yitro
By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
I recently came across a passage in a book by Rabbi Yitzchak Yaakov Reines (1839-1915), the head of a very innovative yeshiva in Lida, Lithuania, and one of the founders of the Mizrachi Religious Zionist movement.
A prolific writer, in his book Nod Shel Demaot (“A Flask of Tears”), Rav Reines writes about the important role that mothers play in the development of their sons and daughters. He claims that it is not only the father’s teaching that motivates the budding Jewish leader. Rather, it is the mother’s feminine intuition and maternal compassion that are, at the very least, equally formative.
Jewish Ledger
Torah Portion – Miketz
T
ypically, this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17), is read during Chanukah. This year is an exception. This Shabbat, we read Miketz on the day after Chanukah.
Since my early childhood, I’ve associated the day after Chanukah with sad feelings, feelings of loss. After all, for eight consecutive days, we celebrated with hallel vhodaah, with praise and thanksgiving, with special foods and songs, and gifts. We lit candles every night, culminating in the night before last when we lit eight candles. Then, suddenly, abruptly, we cease all celebration–no more candles!