“Come to Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants so that I can put my signs in his midst, and so that you may tell in the ears of your son and your grandsons how I made a mockery of Egypt and my signs that I placed among them—and...
After 210 years of enslavement, the Jewish people are finally about to be redeemed. God gives Moses his mission to tell Pharaoh, “Let my people go!” What happens at the beginning of Exodus when Moses and Aaron approach the king of Egypt with their request? (Exodus 5) Not only did Pharaoh famously say, “No, I...
A 'Your Mother's Guidance' post by Rebecca Masinter Anxiety in children was on the rise way before COVID but, unfortunately, it is even more prevalent now. Fear itself isn’t a problem—it’s an opportunity to either become empowered and take action or, God forbid, to take the opposite path and become anxious and fall into dejection....
‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ by Rebecca Masinter After Joseph was sold to Egypt, his father, Jacob, was told that his son had been ripped apart by a wild animal. Jacob mourned deeply. We’re told “vayisabel al bno yamim rabim,” “he mourned for his son for many days. “ Over time, his children tried to comfort him. ...
A ‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ post by Rebecca Masinter There are two fascinating parallel stories about Abraham, one in Genesis 12 and one in Genesis 20. In each of them, Abraham travels to a foreign land for a temporary stay, once in Egypt and once in Grar. In each of them, Abraham says that Sarah is...
A ‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ post by Rebecca Masinter As we read the section of Genesis about the Flood, we see the world being destroyed and recreated. Noah is the man who lived through the recreation. When he left the ark, he emerged into a world that was fundamentally changed from what it had been before. ...
A ‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ post by Rebecca Masinter I have been spending a significant amount of time listening to and speaking with mothers who are trying to determine what is best to do for their children this school year. It is clear to all of us is that this won’t be an easy year, not...
Dear Rabbi Daniel and Susan Lapin, I have listened to your podcast “The one big thing you can do now to improve your finances & family and your social life” several times now, but I still have questions. I am a mom of 4, and as such I do a lot of teaching,...
‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ by Rebecca Masinter Chapter 14 of the book of Deuteronomy lists two signs that kosher mammals must possess: they must have cloven hooves and chew their cuds. A few animals have one sign but are lacking the other one, rendering them non-kosher. The Torah lists these animals. We would have expected that...
A ‘Your Mother’s Guidance’ post by Rebecca Masinter Numbers 6:22-27 includes the timeless instruction from God to the Priests to bless the Jewish people. The blessing begins with the word “Yevarechecha,” “May [God] bless you,” and end with the words, “v’yasem lecha shalom,” “and He should put peace upon you”. Ancient Jewish wisdom points out...
