Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Of all the many fathers-in-law in the Bible, only Yitro & Lavan are singled out for this designation

Moshe was not able to see that Yehoshua was fit for the job. On some level, this seems strange considering their long-standing relationship.

Ya'akov's youth resembles that of his passive and isolated[…] father, his adult life resembles the trials and tribulations of Abraham among the nations.

Peshat vs. Drash

With ubiquitous texting, social media, & email, society is mislead to think that words are ephemeral

Words & expressions that don’t appear anywhere in Torah’s first 4 books suddenly appear in Devarim

Battling Amalek presents an important warning to any Jewish military leader that there is a need to maintain a basic respect for what it means to be human, even when dealing with mortal enemies.

When we cannot fully understand God’s decision that accepting it shows our true allegiance to Him

The Torah knows that we are likely to understand the journey in the desert as essentially one long trip. And so it tries to make us stop and realize that there were actually two journeys and not just one. The first ended with the death of Aharon; the second began with resistance from the Canaanite king

Perhaps God’s own 'completeness' prevented Him from dwelling in a Mishkan waiting to be finished?

Hoe the Torah establishes the value of the individual--and how that ensures humility.

This story is actually a brilliant depiction of the interplay between divine providence and free will. Without taking away our ability to “surprise Him,” God – when needed – doesn’t hesitate to steer us in the direction He wants.

In fact – at its core – there is no better argument than Avraham’s. For his petition is asking for nothing else than what is good for God. For when God executes strict justice, He often “sacrifices” His own reputation for the sake of the truth.

There is likely some connection between the prohibition of chametz on the altar and the chametz which is more likely on our minds as we rid our homes of this most challenging foodstuff.

Avraham was asked to nullify his identity, by fulfilling the opposite of what he believed right.

In our day of media over-reporting, we often think that we should know everything about our leaders. Perhaps it is better to know too little than too much. For when it comes to ethics, the Torah spares no one in reporting what falls short of the mark.

On the face of it, a conventional exchange between father and son, we see it nowhere else in Tanakh. Moreover both discussions take place at pivotal points in which the respective father-son relationships are tested to their limits.

Avraham, saw a world where people can acknowledge a huge and intractable gap between them, know it will not go away, and also build a strong and trusting friendship across tbe gap.

A musical perspective on Parshat Ekev...

Ya’akov did not pray for Rachel to conceive because he did not believe in "forcing God’s hand." He asks, “Am I instead of God? God knows best whether to give children or not. All I can do is ask.”

Precisely because the work that the second-generation did take place was less dramatic and required human participation that it created its own more organic resilience, making it a better model

Many of us simply don’t get the need for the Torah to list the exact same gift offering, 12 times!

The fact it was specifically Midianite and Moabite women involved with Jewish men {Moshe and men involved with Ba'al Peor) shows that an existential bond existed between these nations and Israel.

How might Moshe looked back upon his life? Ironically, the man unsurpassed in so many ways may actually have seen himself as a failure. Yet that is certainly the impression one gets from reading through most of this book.

Leading by example must be calculatedly visible, not only from a point of view of where it is done, but even when and how it is done. Doing something privately is not an act of leadership.

The notion of duality is paradoxically a very important part of God’s unity.

At the beginning of this week's parsha, Rashi informs us that Sarah's death was no accident, but rather a result of hearing about Avraham...

Yishmael could claim to be a victim; he only prevails when he subordinates himself to Yitzchak.

Since the commandments are all meant to engender some positive effect; when a commandment is not practiced, that effect will not be attained either.

Our intentions are critical in raising children because they mimic everything we parents do & think