This week's parsha

Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.

The Reluctant Partner

Published: 11 January 2016 | Written by Lazer Gurkow

Before Jews left Egypt they were told to "borrow" gold and silver from their Egyptian neighbors. The Egyptians, who understood that this was to be, at best, a "long term loan," were reluctant to part with their valuables, but in the end acquiesced to the loan.

Then, just before the Jewish exodus, many Egyptians, of their own volition, offered tremendous gifts of cattle and livestock. What happened? Why the sudden change?

Did G‑d really need to Punish the Egyptians? Isn't there a Better Way?

Published: 04 January 2016 | Written by Tzvi Freeman

Question:

I don't understand. If we are all G‑d's children, and G‑d's mercy extends to all His creations, why did G‑d need to bring on such great harm as blight, plague, and the death of the first born to get the Children of Israel out of Egypt? I understand the problem was that the Egyptians were wicked and needed to be punished and the Israelites were enslaved and mistreated and something had to be done to free them. But couldn't G‑d have found a better way?

Answer:

The entirety of history is a process in which the world is slowly purified and becomes a receptive channel for G‑d's light. When it is still coarse, G‑dliness comes crashing in, because it is Infinite Light and the world cannot contain such a light. But as we approach the messianic times and the purification becomes more complete, miracles can land gently. The fall of the communist party was somewhat a gentler miracle -- a great miracle, but much gentler.

Today, amazing miracles are happening, far beyond the Exodus. But we all want to remain skeptics and prefer not to notice. If we open our minds and eyes, we will see extraordinary changes entering our world -- in peace and tranquility.

Where Were You?

Published: 28 December 2015 | Written by Shimon Posner

"Where were you?" Whether the question is from Mom, the boss, the wife, the husband or the grown children; they are not asking, they are accusing: Why weren't you where you were supposed to be?

Your answer is an excuse. Unless you answer "I've been here the whole time."

A shepherd sees a little lamb run off. The shepherd runs after the lamb: to save it from wolves, to ensure the lamb has enough water and enough tender green grass.

While chasing the lamb, he sees a bush on fire, but it isn't burning. He takes off his shoes in deference. He is told by He-knows-who to go free the people from Pharaoh.

But they will ask me Your name, what do I say? asks the shepherd. A bizarre question matched by an equally perplexing answer: tell them my name is I Will Be As I Will Be. (It is the first recorded conversation between the world's greatest teacher and the world's foremost student.)