• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • JOIN
  • MEMBER PORTAL
  • DONATE
    • MAKE A DONATION
    • CREATE A NAMED ENDOWED FUND
    • SECURE OUR FUTURE
    • LIFE & LEGACY
    • THE TEMPLE APPEAL
  • PAY ONLINE
5101 US-42 • LOUISVILLE, KY 40241 • (502) 423-1818
The Temple - Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom
  • About
    • Our History
    • Our Clergy
      • Rabbi David
      • Cantor Lauren
      • Rabbi Diamond​
      • Rabbi Rooks
      • Rabbi Rapport
    • Our Staff
    • Our Leadership
      • Committees
    • Our Campus
      • Archives & Museum
      • Gift Shop
      • Temple Library
      • Temple Treasures
    • The Temple Cemetery
    • Bulletin
    • FAQs
    • Join Us
  • Spiritual Life
    • Shabbat Services
    • Jewish Holidays
    • Life Cycle Events
    • Becoming Jewish
    • Shir Chadash
    • Caring Rabbi
  • Learning & Living
    • Adults
      • Monday Classes
      • Temple Scholars
      • Torah Study
      • Senior University
    • Children
      • Trager Early Childhood Education Center
      • The Temple Religious School
      • B’nei Mitzvah Program
      • GUCI
    • College
    • Torah Tidbit
  • Community
    • *New* Member Portal
    • Member Directory
    • Brotherhood
    • Sisterhood/WRJ
    • Young Adult Group
    • LGBTQ Equality
    • Chavurat Shalom
    • Boy Scout Troop 30
    • Volunteering
  • Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Event Highlights & Pictures
    • Live Streaming
  • Contact
    • Have a Question?
    • New to Louisville?
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Tag Archive for: Va-eira

Va-eira – וָאֵרָא (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

January 20, 2023/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-eira – וָאֵרָא (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

Obstructed Lips Free Speech

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵ֤ן בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֹֽא־שָׁמְע֣וּ אֵלַ֔י וְאֵיךְ֙ יִשְׁמָעֵ֣נִי פַרְעֹ֔ה וַאֲנִ֖י עֲרַ֥ל שְׂפָתָֽיִם׃ {פ}
Vay’dabeir Moshe Lif’nei Adonai, leimor hen, ‘B’nei Yis’ra-el lo sham’u ei-lai v’eich yish’ma-eini Pharoah va’ani aral s’fataim.
But Moses appealed to יהוה, saying, “The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, me—who gets tongue-tied!”

Rashi translates the phrase “aral s’fataim” as obstructed. Among the many proof texts he offers, he includes the following:

“their ear is עֲרֵלָה (a-ra-lei)— stopped up so that it will not hear-Jeremiah 6:10  

“עַרְלִי (a-ra-li)in heart” — their hearts are closed so that they will not understand; -Jeremiah 9:25

 עֲרַ֥ל (a-ral) elevates the underlying currents at play in this parsha. The Israelites are not open to hearing Moses, Pharoah’s heart repeatedly opens and then closes again. Moses’s physical impediment also reflects deep emotional and psychological impediments. He is truly blocked- physically he cannot express the words he needs to, and one might imagine, his fear and apprehension are now heightened as he must face his tragic past and uncertain future all in the same moment.

Yet, Moses does what many would not. He surrounds himself with support- in this case, God and his brother Aaron, and steps into the lion’s den.

What obstructions are you facing in this moment? Who do you need to surround yourself with so that you might feel able to take the next step into your lion’s den? Va’eira Adonai- and God appeared. How is God appearing to you in this moment?

Parsha Va-eira – וָאֵרָא Torah Summary:

Despite God’s message that they will be redeemed from slavery, the Israelites’ spirits remain crushed. God instructs Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. (6:2-13) The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their descendants is recorded. (6:14-25) Moses and Aaron perform a miracle with a snake and relate to Pharaoh God’s message to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (7:8-13) The first seven plagues occur. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh rescinds each offer to let the Israelites go. (7:14-9:35) Va-eira – וָאֵרָא

Va-eira – וָאֵרָא (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

December 31, 2021/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-eira – וָאֵרָא (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

This week’s Torah Portion Va-eira, begins the story of our people’s journey from slavery to freedom. Moses tells the Children of Israel that the God of their ancestors has sent him to liberate them from Egyptian bondage.

“But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, because of hard labor and shortness of breath.” (Exodus 6:9)

The beginning of a journey is always difficult and we can understand how generations of avodah kashah “hard labor” may have dimmed even the hope of freedom in their hearts. But, what could it mean that they could not hear Moses’ promise of liberation because of kotzeir ruach, because of “shortness of breath?” The word ruach which normally means breath or wind, can also mean “spirit.” Taken this way, the Hebrew text would teach us that slavery had crushed their spirit and they could no longer even dream of a time when they might be free.

What an odd turn in our people’s story of liberation: God send’s Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let My People Go!” And even God’s people cannot hear these words and believe that they might someday come to be. 

It is hard to make a change, even a change that can better our lives and bring hope for our future. How do we learn to embrace the promise of freedom? Moses knows the answer, though he might not know that he knows it. We heard these words in last week’s portion when Moses asks God’s name. God responds Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh, “I can be who I will be.” 

Freedom is not a gift that can be given, nor a right which can be taken, it is a value which must be believed.

Parsha Va-eira – וָאֵרָא Torah Summary:

Despite God’s message that they will be redeemed from slavery, the Israelites’ spirits remain crushed. God instructs Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. (6:2-13) The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their descendants is recorded. (6:14-25) Moses and Aaron perform a miracle with a snake and relate to Pharaoh God’s message to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (7:8-13) The first seven plagues occur. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh rescinds each offer to let the Israelites go. (7:14-9:35) Va-eira – וָאֵרָא

Va-eira (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

January 15, 2021/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-eira – וָאֵרָא Exodus 6:2−9:35)

This week’s Torah Portion is called Va-eira, “and I appeared”.  In it we begin the journey from slavery to freedom. God appears to Moses and calls him to “Go unto Pharaoh” and to tell him to “Let My People Go.” Could there be a more appropriate parashah for this Martin Luther King Shabbat? “From slavery to freedom… let my people go.” 

Here in our weekly Torah Portion, we remember the beginning of our journey, from slavery to freedom – the journey which God promised us, would one day lead us to the Promised Land. Dr. Martin Luther King, who began for us our own journey as a nation, from slavery to freedom, once said: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” In Dr. King’s memory, and in the memory of all those who have carried us to this day, let us strive to keep on moving forward, until we have built together that Promised Land of liberty and justice for all.

Parsha Va-eira Torah Summary:

Despite God’s message that they will be redeemed from slavery, the Israelites’ spirits remain crushed. God instructs Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. (6:2-13) The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their descendants is recorded. (6:14-25) Moses and Aaron perform a miracle with a snake and relate to Pharaoh God’s message to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (7:8-13) The first seven plagues occur. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh rescinds each offer to let the Israelites go. (7:14-9:35)

Va-eira (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

January 24, 2020/in Torah Tidbit

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-eira (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

“But by my name Adonai I did not make myself fully known to them” (Exodus 6:3). Adonai is revealing the real name of God, Adonai is telling Moses for the first time Adonai’s private name.
In basic training (boot camp) our commander was the closest persona to God I ever met. And we only called him “the commander”. On the last day of boot camp he revealed his real name. He became real, he became almost a friend. Adonai becomes closer to Moses and to us when called Adonai, the real name of God. It becomes a friendship.

Va-eira Summary:

Despite God’s message that they will be redeemed from slavery, the Israelites’ spirits remain crushed. God instructs Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. (6:2-13)
The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their descendants is recorded. (6:14-25)
Moses and Aaron perform a miracle with a snake and relate to Pharaoh God’s message to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (7:8-13)
The first seven plagues occur. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh rescinds each offer to let the Israelites go. (7:14-9:35)

This Week’s Torah Portion: Va-eira (Exodus 6:2−9:35)

“But by my name Adonai I did not make myself fully known to them” (Exodus 6:3). Adonai is revealing the real name of God, Adonai is telling Moses for the first time Adonai’s private name.
In basic training (boots camp) our commander was the closest persona to God I ever met. And we only called him “the commander”. On the last day of boots camp he revealed his real name. He became real, he became almost a friend. Adonai becomes closer to Moses and to us when called Adonai, the real name of God. It becomes a friendship.

Va-eira Summary:

Despite God’s message that they will be redeemed from slavery, the Israelites’ spirits remain crushed. God instructs Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt. (6:2-13)
The genealogy of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and their descendants is recorded. (6:14-25)
Moses and Aaron perform a miracle with a snake and relate to Pharaoh God’s message to let the Israelites leave Egypt. (7:8-13)
The first seven plagues occur. God hardens Pharaoh’s heart, and Pharaoh rescinds each offer to let the Israelites go. (7:14-9:35)

Latest Bulletin

March 2023
March 2023
Download Now!

Latest Stories

  • Annual Hanukkah Dinner 2022December 19, 2022 - 9:00 am
  • Hanukkah LanternsDecember 18, 2022 - 9:00 am
  • Bagels and BelongingDecember 5, 2022 - 10:00 am
  • Religious School Hanukkah ShoppingDecember 5, 2022 - 9:00 am
  • Ben Norton named as member of the Sing Unto God Teen Songleading FellowshipNovember 21, 2022 - 4:26 pm
  • Fill the Freezer Family Mitzvah EventNovember 15, 2022 - 10:46 am
  • Rabbi Rabbi Joe Rooks Rapport’s CelebrationMay 24, 2022 - 9:22 am
  • Passover 2022 at The TempleApril 26, 2022 - 12:52 pm
  • The Temple Welcomes Cantor Lauren AdesnikFebruary 24, 2022 - 1:27 pm
  • An Appeal on Behalf of our CommonwealthDecember 14, 2021 - 4:44 pm

Archive

  • March 2023 (3)
  • February 2023 (6)
  • January 2023 (6)
  • December 2022 (11)
  • November 2022 (8)
  • October 2022 (4)
  • September 2022 (5)
  • August 2022 (4)
  • July 2022 (5)
  • June 2022 (4)
  • May 2022 (5)
  • April 2022 (6)
  • March 2022 (4)
  • February 2022 (5)
  • January 2022 (4)
  • December 2021 (7)
  • November 2021 (4)
  • October 2021 (6)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • August 2021 (5)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • June 2021 (4)
  • May 2021 (4)
  • April 2021 (5)
  • March 2021 (6)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • January 2021 (5)
  • December 2020 (5)
  • November 2020 (6)
  • October 2020 (6)
  • September 2020 (6)
  • August 2020 (5)
  • July 2020 (6)
  • June 2020 (7)
  • May 2020 (7)
  • April 2020 (7)
  • March 2020 (5)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • January 2020 (6)
  • December 2019 (8)
  • November 2019 (14)
  • October 2019 (9)
  • September 2019 (6)
  • August 2019 (13)
  • July 2019 (11)
  • June 2019 (14)
  • May 2019 (6)
  • April 2019 (11)
  • March 2019 (15)
  • February 2019 (9)
  • January 2019 (6)
  • December 2018 (10)
  • November 2018 (7)
  • October 2018 (9)
  • September 2018 (3)
  • August 2018 (3)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (3)

GET IN TOUCH

Contact The Temple

5101 US-42, Louisville, KY 40241
(502) 423-1818

templenews@thetemplelouky.org

To contact a Rabbi about a confidential matter, please email CaringRabbi@gmail.com

Kroger Community Rewards
Shop Amazon

HELPFUL LINKS

Join The Temple

New to Louisville?

Register for an Event

Volunteer Opportunities

Religious School

Preschool

URJWhere Jewish Tradition Meets Tomorrow

THE TEMPLE WEEKLY EMAIL

 

Weekly news, right in your inbox

© Copyright 2021 – The Temple | Privacy Policy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Scroll to top