Mifrasim מפרשים : Navigating our Lives as Role Models, Educators, Parents and Jews

Sacks 6/7:6 or 7 Insights by Rabbi Sacks in the Coming Parshiyot Vayigash, Vayechi, Shemot As an official grandfather and person deep into his middle age years, I know I am not alone as someone who has fallen into the trap of “6/7:. The first time I fell into the 6/7 trap, I was teaching 10th graders who caught me when I was talking about Shabbat and said, “It’s 6 and 7, 6 days of work, 7 makes it complete”. The response was laughs.  6/7, according to AI,  “is intentionally nonsensical, often used as a meaningless response online, originating from a rapper's song… Its meaning is to be undefinable, sometimes meaning "so-so," but its primary function is to be a nonsensical and frustrating placeholder.” As nonsensical as it is, say 6/7 to anyone under 30 and you will get a look. This year, in my parsha learning, I have been diving into the new Koren edition of the Chumash with translation and commentary from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Throughout the week, already, each day, I pic...

Sacks 6/7:6 or 7 Insights by Rabbi Sacks in the Coming Parshiyot As an official grandfather and person deep into his middle age years, I know I am not alone as someone who has fell into the trap of “6/7:. The first time I fell into the 6/7 trap, I was teaching 10th graders who caught me when I was talking about Shabbat and said, “It’s 6 and 7, 6 days of work, 7 makes it complete”. The response was laughs.  6/7, according to AI,  “is intentionally nonsensical, often used as a meaningless response online, originating from a rapper's song… Its meaning is to be undefinable, sometimes meaning "so-so," but its primary function is to be a nonsensical and frustrating placeholder.” As nonsensical as it is, say 6/7 to anyone under 30 and you will get a look. This year, in my parsha learning, I have been diving into the new Koren edition of the Chumash with translation and commentary from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Throughout the week, already, each day, I pick up a thought or an inspira...

48 Hour Witness to a “Jacobic” Promise: Breadth and Depth on the Streets of Rome Parshat Vayetse begins with Jacob’s famous dream. In it, he is given the promise of eretz Yisrael (Gen 28:13)  הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ שֹׁכֵ֣ב עָלֶ֔יהָ לְךָ֥ אֶתְּנֶ֖נָּה וּלְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ the ground on which you are lying I will assign to you and to your offspring. And the promise continues in the next pasuk…(Gen. 28:14)  וְהָיָ֤ה זַרְעֲךָ֙ כַּעֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֔רֶץ וּפָרַצְתָּ֛ יָ֥מָּה וָקֵ֖דְמָה וְצָפֹ֣נָה וָנֶ֑גְבָּה וְנִבְרְכ֥וּ בְךָ֛ כׇּל־מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָ֖ה וּבְזַרְעֶֽךָ׃ Your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.  In identifying the role of that second pasuk, the Em HaMikra and the HaEmek Davar, Rabbi Elijah Benamozegh and Rabbi Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, also known as the Netziv, (both 19th century rabbis) share that this is actually a promise that we will be spread throughout the earth, not on...

“Sacred FOMO” - Lessons from the Desert for Parents and Educators Summer is the time where many of us are given the chance to breathe and focus on renewal and rejuvenation— working to get in touch with our truest and best selves. Yet, in our world of instant pictures and memory sharing, FOMO can sometimes get in the way. Videos, images and posts about what others are doing and experiencing, can sometimes make people feel that their lives are, in some way, lacking. Fear of missing out, or FOMO, according to the Psychcentral.com, is the “anxiety or apprehension surrounding missing out on things like, social events, gatherings or the latest gossip or news. Experiencing FOMO may make you feel like you aren’t as connected to the latest happenings and norms of society as you would like to be or “should” be.” Sometimes this FOMO seems silly or vain—but after thinking more about Sefer Bamidbar, the book we just concluded last week, FOMO, if looked at constructively, can be an important muscle ...

You Can Have Your Space, Cowboys A Message to the Class of 2025 You can tell a lot about a person by the playlists on their phones.  And when I think of the Class of 2025, there is a playlist that is being put together in my mind. There is, of course, Am Yisrael Chai, with images of so many of you dancing on 78th street, arms locked with joy and conviction on Yom HaAtzmaut. There is Od Yoter Tov -the song that escorted IDF soldiers into the school just a few months ago with your collective embrace.  There is Barukh HaShem It’s Shabbos which we hear each week as we leave the school lobby on Friday afternoons, wishing each other a sweet Shabbat..  Uvenei Otah, from our celebration just a few weeks ago at the Kotel on Yom Yerushalayim.  Acheinu as we pray for the hostages and the IDF and even serve them dinner on an army base.  And, of course, there is Tomorrow, that timeless song of hope, which you all sang with energy and joy even after 24 straight hours of no sl...

Rage, Despair, Confusion, and Compassion: Bob Dylan and Two Pesach Messianic Visions Last week, the Ramaz Class of 2025 put on a production of Annie which was done in a 24-hour span. It was an incredible experience of teamwork and bonding for our seniors. Of the many incredible feelings I had as I watched our amazing teenagers on stage, was the realization that maybe the song that we all need right now is tomorrow. This is  because thinking about tomorrow can “clear away the cobwebs and the sorrow.”  Yes, Pesach is a story of the past and an obligation to remember. It is a moment to put ourselves in the shoes of our ancestors. But, right now, to be honest, as we are living in a continually depressing and confusing world, it is natural to be thinking mostly about tomorrow – hoping for a brighter future.  The Haggadah echoes this hope. After the meal, the focus in Haggadah is not on the past, but on the future. We read the Hallel HaGadol, sing l’Shana HaBa BeYerushalayim, p...