Alexandra Lederman Class of 2024 The first commentary by Rashi in the  Chumash  says that the  Torah  is not a history book, it is a law book. If it is a law book for us, why doesn’t the  Torah  start with the first  mitzvah  given directly to the Jews? That  mitzvah  is  Rosh Chodesh , which is found in  Parshat Bo  this week. As we learned in  Morah  Ora’s class last year, Rashi says that  Hashem  didn’t start with the  mitzvot  in order to prove that He created the world and gave us the land.   Why would the first  mitzvah  given directly to the Jews be  Rosh Chodesh?  Why not  Shema , or  Shabbat,  or any other  mitzvah? Rosh Chodesh  seems so random. There are two possible answers which I’d like to share with you.   I heard the first answer from Rav  Yitzchak  Lerner.  Hashem  told us when all the  chagim ...

Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Jaffe Dean of Judaic Studies Each day upon entering Maimonides, students, visitors, and teachers have the chance to read the school’s statement of values, which includes the memorable line:  Torah  study is enriched by our understanding of science, philosophy, literature, art, and music, which in turn is enhanced and enlightened by the teachings of  Torah.   It is an important aspect of who we are as a school, and something our students experience each and every day.   To give one example, last week’s  parsha  included the important observation that the Jewish people are the firstborn children of  Hashem  ( Shemot  4:22). But what does it mean to be the children of  Hashem?  While discussing the phrase this week – considering whether it is a metaphor (Seforno), parable (Ibn Ezra), figurative (Rashi), or literal (Avoda Zara 3a, and  possibly  Sanhedrin 43b) – our students used the structures and terminolog...

Raanan Gewurz '24 I write these reflections while sitting in a  beit midrash  in Jerusalem, having just graduated from Maimonides last year. Everywhere one turns in Israel today, there are signs reading  b’yachad nenatzeach  (together we will prevail), reminding us of the power of a united  Am Yisrael . For some, these signs also have religious connotations. This is one of the first lessons of  Sefer Shemot , as we move from stories about individuals and families to one about the birth of a nation.   The second  perek  of this week’s  parsha  tells the story of Moshe's birth and how he came to be raised by Batya, the daughter of Pharaoh. It begins by introducing Moshe’s parents as follows:  וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ אִ֖ישׁ מִבֵּ֣ית לֵוִ֑י וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־בַּת־לֵוִֽי,  a man from the house of Levi went and took a woman (as a wife) from the house of Levi.  The next  pasuk  continues וַתַּ֥הַר הָאִשָּׁ֖ה וַתֵּ֣לֶד בֵּ֑ן, ...

Jacob Pinnolis Chiel Educator-in-Residence Parshat Vayechi  records the end of Yaakov’s life with a poignant description of his last words to his sons. He appears to be about to deliver a prophecy regarding what will happen to them and their descendants: וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים He said, “Gather together so I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come.”   However, the actual content of what Yaakov says is more complicated. He alludes to incidents in their lives while looking at the past, reflects on their characters and individual gifts, and offers rebukes   where necessary. His reflections on his sons are complex, but they are not straightforward prophetic predictions. The Daat Zekanim comments, based on  Midrashic  sources, that while Yaakov’s intention was to share predictions of the future, he knew this was not his role. Rather, כשראה יעקב כך הפליגן בדברים ואמר ראובן בכורי ...