Author: shamyr

The parasha Mikets (Genesis 41:1-44:17) highlights the wisdom of Joseph, and the haftarah (1 Kings 3:15-28) emphasizes that of King Solomon, the author of the Song of Songs.

Song of Songs 4:4
כְּמִגְדַּל דָּוִיד צַוָּארֵךְ, בָּנוּי לְתַלְפִּיּוֹת; אֶלֶף הַמָּגֵן תָּלוּי עָלָיו, כֹּל שִׁלְטֵי הַגִּבֹּרִים.
Your neck is like the tower of David, built for trophies of arms; a thousand shields hang upon it, all the shields of the mighty warriors!

This verse from the Song of Songs is carved on the north wall of the medieval synagogue of Cordoba, a jewel of Mudéjar style ⁽¹⁾ erected in 1315 ⁽²⁾. The entrance is through a patio on the south side, leading to a prayer hall in the shape of an almost perfect cube, adorned with stucco decorations featuring geometric patterns surrounding inscriptions in Hebrew ⁽³⁾. A staircase leads to a gallery reserved for women. In 2008, a mikveh and a Talmudic school were discovered.

⁽¹⁾ Mudéjar is an artistic and architectural style between the 12th and 16th centuries resulting from the coexistence of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cultures in Spain, characterized by polylobed arches, alfiz, stucco, etc.
⁽²⁾ Declared a Cultural Heritage site in 1885 and a World Heritage site in 1994
⁽³⁾ Psalms 104:31, 144:15, Proverbs 21:30, 1 Samuel 2:2. During a restoration in 1884, an inaugural inscription in Hebrew revealed that the building was constructed in 1315 (5075 in the Hebrew calendar) by the master builder Isaq Moheb.

This year, Shabbat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23) coincides with Hanukkah. Therefore, the haftarah, which predicts a severe judgment for the Jewish people, is replaced by that of Hanukkah, taken from Zechariah (2:14–4:7). This latter, a prophecy issued shortly before the construction of the Temple, promises that if Israel respects the divine commandments, it will be granted a privileged place.

Antioch (Antakya in Turkish) was the capital of the Seleucid Empire between 240^BCE and 64^BCE. In 167^BCE, King Antiochus IV proclaimed decrees aimed at eradicating Judaism, thus triggering the revolt of the Hasmoneans and leading to the victory of the Maccabees.

In modern times, under Turkish tutelage, the city of Antioch experiences political violence, and with the massive arrival of Syrian refugees, many of whom are jihadists, the Jewish community of Antioch leaves the city. Only the last existing synagogue, built around 1750, still bears witness to 2,500 years of Jewish presence in Antioch.

In the Parasha Vayichla’h (Genesis 32:4-36:43) Ya’akov struggles with an angel, comes out injured but victorious, and is given the name Israel ⁽¹⁾. At Beth-El, G-d appears to him and blesses him. Then, Ya’akov heads towards Ephrata (Bethlehem) where Rachel dies in childbirth after giving birth to Benjamin. The haftara drawn from Obadiah speaks of divine anger towards the kingdom of Edom and its fall due to its arrogance and violent actions against the people of Israel.

Obadiah 1:19 ⁽²⁾
יָרְשׁוּ הַנֶּגֶב אֶת-הַר עֵשָׂו, וְהַשְּׁפֵלָה אֶת-פְּלִשְׁתִּים, וְיָרְשׁוּ אֶת-שְׂדֵה אֶפְרַיִם, וְאֵת שְׂדֵה שֹׁמְרוֹן; וּבִנְיָמִן, אֶת-הַגִּלְעָד
And they will possess the Negev, the mountain of Esau, the plain of the Philistines, they will possess the field of Ephraim, the field of Samaria and Benjamin will possess Gilead.

Rachel’s tomb is located in Bethlehem in Judea. According to the prophet Jeremiah (31:14-16) “A voice is heard in Ramah, a plaintive voice, bitter sobs. It is Rachel who weeps for her children, who does not want to be comforted for her sons for they are no more. Thus says the Lord: let your voice cease from moaning and your eyes from crying, for there will be a compensation for your efforts, says the Lord, they will return from the enemy’s land. And there is hope for your future, says the Lord, your children will return to their domain”.

⁽¹⁾ ישראל, Yisra’él , G-d prevails.
⁽²⁾ The verse refers to several geographical regions encompassing the entire state of Israel, the south of Lebanon and Syria, the ridge line to the east of the Jordan, up to Akaba and the Gaza Strip.

Parashah Vayetze (וַיֵּצֵא – And he went out), Genesis 28:10–32:3.
Ya’akov flees from Esau’s anger and stops in Luz. There, God promises him a great offspring and the possession of the land of Israel. Acknowledging the divine presence in this place, Ya’akov consecrates it and names it Bethel. He then travels to Haran to Laban’s house. Ya’akov works there for fourteen years, marries Leah and Rachel, and invests six more years to build up his livestock. Fleeing from his father-in-law’s tricks, Ya’akov leaves Haran with his family and all his possessions. Finally, he prepares for the reunion with Esau, his brother.

Genesis 28:15
וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ, וּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-תֵּלֵךְ, וַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָ, אֶל-הָאֲדָמָה הַזֹּאת: כִּי, לֹא אֶעֱזָבְךָ, עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם-עָשִׂיתִי, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-דִּבַּרְתִּי לָךְ.
Behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.

Operation “Magic Carpet” (1949-1950)
At the creation of Israel, Jewish communities in predominantly Muslim countries faced significant threats. Israel responded to these challenges by organizing Operation “Magic Carpet,” aimed at evacuating around 45,000 Yemenite Jews.

In the Jewish quarter of Sanaa, Qa Al-Yahud, with its narrow streets and two or three-story mudbrick houses⁽¹⁾, the Jewish presence has vanished, with the Houthis driving out the last ones in 2016⁽²⁾. Nowadays, most Yemenite Jews reside in Israel.

⁽¹⁾ The Old City of Sanaa, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1986, is an architectural treasure with a Jewish history of over 2,000 years. It exceptionally illustrates ancient urban planning. Its ten-story mudbrick buildings adorned with intricate geometric and floral sculptures provide a unique aesthetic. This old city bears witness to Yemen’s historical and cultural richness but faces preservation challenges due to the turmoil caused by the Houthis.

⁽²⁾ According to a United Nations report released in March 2022, only one Jew remains in Yemen out of the 2,000 who were still there in 2016. This individual is likely Levi Salem Musa Marhabi, who has been illegally imprisoned and tortured multiple times by the Houthis. He lives in inhumane prison conditions, and his health is deteriorating. In November 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for his immediate release.

The Torah portion Toldot (Genesis 25:19 to 28:9) recounts the birth of Esau and Jacob, Jacob’s acquisition of the birthright, and the blessings bestowed upon him by his father Isaac. The portion consists of 106 verses, a number corresponding to the gematria of the word “עלו” which translates to “they have risen” ⁽¹⁾.

Genesis 26:4
וְהִרְבֵּיתִי אֶת-זַרְעֲךָ, כְּכוֹכְבֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְנָתַתִּי לְזַרְעֲךָ, אֵת כָּל-הָאֲרָצֹת הָאֵל; וְהִתְבָּרְכוּ בְזַרְעֲךָ, כֹּל גּוֹיֵי הָאָרֶץ.
I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; I will give your descendants all these lands, and by your descendants, all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves.

Jeffrey Hoffman’s ⁽²⁾ last space mission took place aboard the space shuttle Columbia⁽³⁾. During this mission, he brought various Jewish items, including a spinning top and a small Sefer Torah. While in orbit, he read the book of Genesis. The documentary “Space Torah” ^(click), aired in 2023, recounts this significant event in his career. Concurrently with the documentary, a traveling exhibition, “The Space Torah Project,” dedicated to celebrating the Jewish legacy in space, toured Israel.

⁽¹⁾ According to Rabbi David Feinstein Zt”l, this alludes to the elevation of Isaac after his time in Gerar (Genesis 26:13), Jacob’s elevation through the purchase of the birthright (Genesis 25:33), and the blessings bestowed by his father (Genesis 27:27-29 and 28:1-4).
⁽²⁾ Jeffrey Hoffman is an American astronaut born in 1944. He participated in five space missions with NASA, including spacewalks to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
⁽³⁾ The STS-75 mission took place from February 22 to March 9, 1996. That year, Purim fell on February 25.

The parasha Haye Sarah, Genesis 23:1 – 25:18, begins with the recounting of Sarah’s years of life. Then, Abraham purchases a suitable burial place in Hebron (מערת המכפלה). Afterwards, Abraham sends his faithful servant Eliezer on a mission, guided by divine providence.

Genesis 24:27
וַיֹּאמֶר בָּרוּךְ ה’ אֱלֹקי אֲדֹנִי אַבְרָהָם אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָזַב חַסְדּוֹ וַאֲמִתּוֹ מֵעִם אֲדֹנִי אֲנֹכִי בַּדֶּרֶךְ נָתַנִי ה’ בֵּית אֲחַי אֲדֹנִי.
And he said, “Blessed be the Lord, the Gd of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His steadfast love and His faithfulness toward my master. As for me, the Lord has led me in the way to the house of my master’s kinsmen.”

The NGO Yad Sarah engages in numerous missions. It is a providential Israeli humanitarian institution for individuals who have experienced hospital stays or other life challenges. Currently, it focuses on assisting countless wounded and traumatized individuals affected by mourning, terror, indescribable violence, attacks, missile strikes, war, and hostage situations. It brings hope and aid to the wounded and troubled minds.

Eliezer Armon, the architect of the Yad Sarah building in Beer-Sheva, explained that the pyramid constructed at the front of the building is intentionally cracked. “Yad Sarah supports people who have had a crack in their lives,” he added. “But a crack also lets in the light.”