MHA-FYOS Dean's Blog

This week’s parasha , Parashat Va'Era, is the second of four parashiyot discussing the Jewish People’s enslavement in Egypt and Hashem’s salvation of His nation. Hashem employed a series of miracles in freeing His people, beginning with the signs that Moshe showed Paroh and his magicians and culminating with the Egyptians drowning in the Reed Sea. The Torah refers to these miracles in different ways. Two of these descriptors are used in one section early in our parasha . Hashem tells Moshe, “You will say everything that I command you, and Aharon, your brother will speak to Paroh and he will send the Jewish People from his land. And I will harden Paroh’s heart and I will increase my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. And Paroh will not listen, and I will put My hand in Egypt, and I will bring out My legions, My nation, the Jewish People, from the land of Egypt with great judgments.” (Shemot 6:2-4) In what way were Hashem’s miracles signs and wonders and in what way were they gr...

We are now in the month of Adar Sheni. The school is decorated and we are preparing ourselves for the festivities of Purim. As we know, our Rabbis established four mitzvot of Purim: Reading the Megillah - each man and woman is obligated to read or hear the megillah being read on Purim evening and on Purim day Spreading happiness through delivering gifts of food - each man and woman is minimally obligated to give two food gifts to one person Eating a festive meal - each man and woman is obligated to eat a bread meal with wine and meat Charity to the poor - each man and woman is minimally obligated to give charity to two poor people What message do these particular mitzvot convey to those who observe them? To address one answer to this question, let us examine Haman’s plan to destroy the Jewish People. Haman’s suggestion to Achashverosh to destroy the Jewish people was uniquely formulated. Haman said, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peop...

Each of us has our reason for contributing to the Operational Campaign. For some, it is appreciation for what the school has given us. For some, it is an investment in the future. For some, it is a feeling of responsibility to the community. There are as many reasons as contributors. Each of these reasons is praiseworthy and laudable. Beyond the individual reasons why each person gives, this focused initiative of the entire community over the course of only two weeks itself conveys a message. I want to share two inspirational messages that I am taking away from the Operational Campaign. I will present the first message from what I readily acknowledge is an odd perspective. Like it or not, we can learn a lot about ourselves by studying how our enemies see us. Through their criticism and even venom, our enemies often provide a window into our deepest held beliefs in ways that escape our self-awareness. How did one of the Jewish people’s greatest archenemies view the strength of...