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 ...

Robin Meyerowitz Early Childhood Director In this week’s  parsha, Vayeishev , Yaakov gives his favorite son Yosef the famous multicolored coat. Consumed by jealousy, Yosef’s brothers throw him in a pit. At that moment, we think of Yosef almost as a nobody. Nobody important, no one who would ever accomplish anything in life, just a boy who bragged about his dreams. However, as it says in Psalm 118:22, אבן מאסו הבונים היתה לראש פינה The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.   Yosef became the foundation stone of the Jewish people and our history.   Yosef had two prophetic dreams in which his brothers and parents bowed down to him. This made his brothers and even his father angry for assuming that they would bow down. However, as we all know, that turned out to be true.   Rabbi Yehuda Appel wrote this week that it is never easy to give fair and equal treatment to all of your children. He shared an example of a rabbi who, at his son’s  shalom ...

Noah Klein Class of 2025 In the beginning of this week’s  parsha ,  Vayetzei , Yaakov makes his way to Haran to find a wife. In the middle of his journey, he lies down on a rock and dreams of a stairway of angels going up and down between earth and heaven. Then  Hashem  appears to him and reaffirms Avraham’s  brit , describing how the Jews will be as numerous as the dust of the earth.   How we read the  pesukim  describing Yaakov’s encounter can shape our understanding of the spiritual relationship between him and  Hashem .  Pasuk  28:13 reads “וְהִנֵּה ה’ נִצָּב עָלָיו,” which, based on the meaning of עָלָיו, can reveal two different types of connections between  Hashem  and Yaakov. Rashi, based on the  Midrash , says that  Hashem  stood  above  Yaakov in order to guard him, reflective of a father-son, protective connection. However, some translations of the  pasuk  interpret עָלָיו to m...

Rabbi Shmuel Silberman Middle/Upper School Learning Center Specialist What does Judaism say about secular activities? We get a great insight into this question in  Parshat Toldot  this week.   There are 248 positive and 365 negative  mitzvot . While that’s a lot of required and forbidden activities, it leaves us wondering about the vast space in the middle. What about purely optional behaviors, such as playing sports, musical instruments, or games, or the countless other things people do much of the time? Does  Hashem  care what we do in this middle zone, and can these actions be religiously significant?   The answer is a resounding yes. “In all your ways know Him.” ( Mishlei  3:6) Optional activities are encouraged if they enhance a person’s spirituality. These activities can bring emotional fulfillment and physical or mental rejuvenation, among many benefits. They can be used to help others and to provide insight into  Hashem ’s greatness. ...