The servant - master relationship

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1. "I Have Formed You; You Are My Servant"

   Haftarot: Vayikra

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   The prophet describes the relationship between God and Am Yisrael in terms of a servant and master. Sacrifices are therefore necessary to enable the servant to stand before his master. The reason behind the redemption in the haftara is God's responsibility toward the nation as a master, who is obligated to care for his servants. The haftara ends with the prophet mocking idolaters who create their statues, and emphasizes God's role as a creator.

2. Implications of the Akeida Part 6: The Sefat Emet on Yir'a vs. Ahava

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 31 minutes

   We will begin by reflecting, evaluating, and developing an idea found in the commentary of the Sefat Emet to the story of the Akeida. Why does the Torah mention that Avraham saw the place from afar?  The Sefat Emet's answer is that the distance is not geographical, but rather refers to the gap  between Avrham’s own inner commitment, understanding, and attachment and the thing he was about to do. There is a tension between loving God and fearing God. Avraham, the prime example of one who worships God out of love, is ultimately praised at the end of this episode because it is now clear that he fears God, too. 

   A thought-provoking explanation of the view that God never wanted Avraham to offer Yitzhak as a sacrifice. is that Avraham was nevertheless meant to think that God was asking him to do it.

   Knowing that the strand of ahava (love) and yira (fear) are sometimes contradictory on a psychological level will help us commit ourselves to both – to do what we know is right - as we are "made in the Divine Image," but also to subject ourselves to the will of the Master of the Universe.

3. Female Servitude...Wait, What?

   Rabbi David Fohrman |

   In this week's parsha, we are given the laws of female servitude - worse, a female child, being sold by her parents! How are we, as 21st century students of the Torah, meant to understand such a difficult piece of text? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman shows us that the Torah argues that to create a better society, we must be proactive about addressing social and economic inequality.

    

    

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