Beit Polska Blog

Thoughts on parashat Pinchas 5784

There is an old Japanese story about a samurai and a fisherman. One day, the samurai went to collect a debt from the fisherman. “I’m sorry,” the fisherman said, “but this last year has been a very bad one for me, and I regret to say I do not have the money to repay you.” Quick to anger, the samurai drew his sword and prepared to kill the fisherman on the spot. Thinking fast, the fisherman boldly said, “I have been studying martial arts and my master teaches that you should never strike out of anger.”[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Balak 5784

Over the last few days I have been reading the book “The Power Of a Positive No” by William Ury. Reading the first chapter, I already realized that the topic of the book overlaps with the topic of this week’s Torah portion. But before I explain what this book and its concepts have in common with our parashah, let me quickly reflect on the latter itself, to summarize its theological message.[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Korach 5784

Who was Korach? Korach is barely mentioned in the Torah: besides our parashah his name appears twice in the genealogy of the heads of the Israelite clans, right after the description of the calling of Moses in Exodus chp. 6. Ibn Ezra summarizes his place in the Israelite society in his comment to Exodus 6:21:[…]

Thoughts on parashat Sh’lach

The fate of human communities, including Jewish communities, is determined by many factors, objective – the historical, economic and social conditions in which people in a given era have to live, as well as subjective – e.g. specific decisions of community leaders or other individuals with power and influence on other people’s lives. The latter sometimes turn out to be crucial; it can determine the lives of many subsequent generations, therefore it is very important that human communities are led by reasonable, responsible and educated people.[…]

Thoughts on Parashat Bechukotai 5784

Sometimes when you read the Torah, you encounter sets of more general rules that belong fundamental principles of the brit:

If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant your rains in their season, so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees of the field their fruit.
Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and […]

Thoughts on parashat Behar 5784

A light of nations. That is what Israel is. That’s who we Jews are, or have believed about ourselves. A people chosen by God and history to survive, to be an example for the Nations of the Earth.

Perhaps this is why the UN, EU, Western countries, and the entire world has always had their eyes on Israel. But the hypocrisy the vast majority of them now show is tangible.[…]