CHOCHMAS NASHIM: ZACHOR: WHO CAN FORGET? By: Suri Davis   It is not difficult for us to remember Amalek, we are experiencing it this very moment in the Gazan war. I saw two shows this year on Broadway, one was Leopoldstat and the other Lehman Brother Trilogy.  The basis of the Leopoldstat was a Jewish…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM:PIKUDEI :INTENTIONS By: Suri Davis     In this week’s Haftorah, it discusses King Solomon’s dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem and three points stand out to me.   When it was completed and the ark with the tablets of the ten commandments was placed in the holy of holies, the Temple was…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: VAYAKHEL: ASSEMBLIES By: Suri Davis   There are numerous times throughout this torah portion where the term Chacham Lev Ladaat/wise of the heart, to know.  The term is jam packed with deep meaning of the world reality. We think of wisdom stemming from our minds and not our hearts.  A wise heart is…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: A FEW THOUGHTS By: Suri Davis   This week’s torah portion discusses several interesting topics.  In a discussion of the kohanim/priests preparing for service, they had to wash their hands and feet.  The Ohr Hachaim comments that the way this is written in Hebrew, we interpret that they have to be washed at…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: IF YOU BUILD IT… By: Suri Davis   Every year, when we approach the many Torah portions which discuss the building of the Tabernacle and its utensils and clothes of the priests, it means something else to me.  Last year, I had just seen the sophisticated relics of Mt. Vesuvius, an Italian volcano…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: AFTER 127 DAYS, TWO HOSTAGES RELEASED By: Suri Davis   The month of Adar is the month of Purim.  It is not only rejoicing for the two or three days of Purim, but for the entire month.  We learn from the Torah that for Sukkoth, we are to be happy, but for the…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: AD MASAI ADONAI? By: Suri Davis   The haftorah of this week’s Torah portion is an excerpt of Isaiah’s prophecy.  Isaiah and Moses both had language impediments and were reluctant leaders.  Let’s remember that Haftorahs came into our practice when it was impossible to read the Torah and is topically related to the…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: B’SHALACH: #EMUNAHGORERETEMUNAH By: Suri Davis   This is a consummate Torah of Faith and Trust in G-d, who saves us from enemies, provides us with food, clothing and shelter, and hearkens our prayers.  The Jews exit Egypt in last week’s torah portion.  They now approach the Red Sea and the Egyptians are chasing…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: BO: ALWAYS CONNECTED By: Suri Davis   27You fear not, O Jacob My servant, and be not dismayed, O Israel! for behold, I will redeem you from afar and your children from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall return and be quiet and at ease, and there shall be none who…

CHOCHMAS NASHAIM:  PHARAOH BIDEN FORGETS JOSEPH ISRAEL By: Suri Davis   Starting the second book of the Pentateuch, Exodus, the book begins with “a new king arises on Egypt who didn’t know Joseph.”   Hmmm.  One might have thought if it was centuries, or even merely decades, later, the amnesia would make sense.  Joseph was…