The pause makes all the difference – B’reshit

October 5th, 2026

PauseIt is clear that there is a system in the process of the creation of the world.

Day by day things take shape, step by step the work moves towards completion. God the great Architect checks each stage and declares Himself satisfied.

The story is magnificent and majestic. But it is not without its problems.

For example, why does the system change once the sixth day is over?

Everything up to that point is material and physical – land and seas, sun, moon and stars, flora and fauna, man himself – but creation now becomes non-physical with the seventh day Sabbath.

The clue comes in the word la’asot, “to function”; the physical world is created “to function”, but subject to a condition: everything must have time out.

The earth has to rest – hence the sabbatical year. The animals have to rest – hence they must rest when we do.

Above all man, as the only part of creation with a consciousness of time and purpose, must rest. This is why Shabbat was created.

Yet Sabbath rest is not just physical; the day is not merely for sleep and inactivity but for spiritual and cultural refreshment.

A famous pianist was asked, “What is the secret of your playing?”

His answer? “The magic is not in the notes, but in the pauses between them!”

Shabbat is the pause that makes the difference.

Posted by oztorah | B'reshit, Parashah Insights | Permalink

Is man a photo? – B’reshit

October 5th, 2026

That man is made in God’s image is axiomatic to the Torah (Gen. 1:27, etc.).

The word “image” (tzelem) does not mean anything physical, since God has no physical shape or characteristics. The “image” is intellectual, moral and spiritual.

Man is not a photograph of God in any literal sense, but metaphorically has the capacity of aspiring to be God-like.

As God thinks and plans, man can think and plan. As God is just and truthful, man can be just and truthful. As God is sublime, so man can at least try to be sublime.

Man will never be God, but he has the ability to raise himself to be, as the Psalmist puts it, “little lower than God” (Psalm 8:6).

How tragic it is when you see human beings who go down morally, not up, who stifle their inner spiritual spark and ignore the pinprick of conscience, who know deep down that they really could look higher but simply don’t want to.

(On the other hand, how miraculous it is to find people who let their still small voice be heard and allow themselves to begin the slow but exhilarating upward climb.)

Posted by oztorah | B'reshit, Parashah Insights | Permalink

Isaiah & Jesus – Ask the Rabbi

October 5th, 2026

Q. Does Isaiah predict the birth of Jesus, as some Christians suggest?

Jesus preaching, by Gustave Dore, 1891
A. The verse that is referred to is Isaiah 7:14, “the young woman (almah) shall conceive and bear a son”.

Some Christians argue for the translation, “the virgin shall conceive”. But the Hebrew for virgin is b’tulah. By using almah the verse is not making any claim other than that the young woman concerned (who may have been the prophet’s wife, the king’s wife or indeed any other woman of the kingdom of Judah) will conceive in the normal way.

True, the Greek translation, the Septuagint, seems to understand the word as “virgin” (parthenos), but Professor Harry M Orlinsky has pointed out that at that time parthenos meant simply a young woman without any necessary connotation of virginity.

These arguments have led the New English Bible, for instance, to join the Jewish translators in saying, “a young woman is with child”.

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Chazan praying out loud – Ask the Rabbi

October 5th, 2026

Q. Why is it that the chazan says every word of some prayers aloud, but in the case of other prayers he says aloud only the beginning and the end of the passage?

A. There is a difference between Ashkenazi and Sephardi rites in this respect.

Before printing was invented, few people had a siddur. Hence the officiant chanted every passage aloud in order to help and guide the congregation in their prayers.

This custom is followed to this day in Sephardi and oriental communities, whereas the Ashkenazim retain it only for the repetition of the Amidah: other prayers are commenced and concluded aloud with the rest of the passage being said inaudibly by the congregation.

The advantage of the Ashkenazi custom is that worshippers can vary the pace and intensity of what they are saying without affecting others.

Posted by oztorah | Ask The Rabbi, Prayer | Permalink

Melaveh Malkah – Ask the Rabbi

October 5th, 2026

Q. What is a Melaveh Malkah?

A. It is a farewell to Shabbat. The term literally means “accompanying the queen”, since Shabbat is personified as a queen whom we treat as a distinguished guest in our midst.

The Melaveh Malkah meal is regarded as the banquet of King David, because David was informed that he would die on a Sabbath and therefore, when darkness came on Saturday night and he found himself still alive, he would feast and celebrate.

A Melaveh Malkah is a memorable, emotional way of allowing the Sabbath spirit to linger before finally taking its leave until next week.

Posted by oztorah | Ask The Rabbi, Shabbat | Permalink

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