Avrum Rosensweig, founder of the Jewish humanitarian organization Ve’ahavta, is a human rights activist, and passionate advocate for the Jewish people. A frequent guest speaker at our Congregation, he was Habonim's Associate Religious Leader from 2005-2014.
I will be teaching a conversion class this evening, and therefore unfortunately unable to teach our shiur. I look forward to being with you again next week and picking up on the beautiful chavruta we are creating, and learning the splendours of our gift, the Torah.
Please remember as you learn the Chumash, Parshat Re'eh, the people who came through our world and worked diligently to develop themselves as human beings and Jews.....those who focused on kindness and goodness above all else, individuals who could see the needs of others and responded to them. Think too about our courageous Israeli brothers and sisters, some of whom are only 19 years old, fighting on behalf of all Jews everywhere. And learn on behalf of those who have left us, killed in battle. Consider the bravery of their parents, grandparents and families who believe in our Jewishness so much, they make Israel their home, and send their young men and women off to war. Spend time meditating on the hostages - the living and those who have perished. Oy! Not easy, eh!?
PARSHAT RE'EH THROUGH THE LENSE OF 'THE WAVE'
1. Rabbi Shlomo Gemara and I, co-hosted a podcast this week on PARSHAT RE'EH. We discussed it through the lense of the novel/movie: THE WAVE, a true story about a teacher who showed his students how Nazism developed, through a harrowing classroom experiment. Those students were brainwashed. Are we? Is adherence to a set of laws, the Torah, indeed an expression of freedom of choice?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ THE AVRUM ROSENSWEIG SHOW: FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM
2. Similarly, Rabbi Gemara and I recorded a podcast debunking recent claims that the Talmud is anti-Gentile. The Rabbi did a brilliant job of breaking down many of the lines put forward as such. Share this piece with others. It is important all Jews equip themselves with tools to battle this fierce war called: Anti-Semitism. Kol ha'kavod.
I look forward to being with you once again next week. Have a beautiful shabbat and week to follow. How fortunate we are to have the freedom to learn Torah and to live as Jews. Am Yisrael Chai. Proud to be a Jew.
L'shalom, With love, Avrum
"You shall cross the Jordan and settle in the Land that Hashem, your God causes you to inherit; and He will give you rest from all your enemies all around, and you will dwell securely."- Parshat Re'ah. (12:10)
