Congregación Hijos de Abraham

05/14/2024

01/17/2024

Did God really need a sign? Didn't He know which houses belonged to the Hebrews?

10/20/2023

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TIMELY REMINDER: 3RD TEMPLE TO BE DEDICATED IN MARCHESHVAN!

Midrash teaches us that the Tabernacle which Moshe built was completed in the month of Kislev, but only dedicated in the month of Nisan, as it is written “On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.” (Exodus 40:2) Similarly, the first Holy Temple, built by King Solomon was completed in the month of MarCheshvan, but only dedicated the following year in the month of Tishrei.

Midrash goes on the tell us that the month of Kislev was disappointed that, while the Tabernacle was completed during the month, Kislev wasn't honored with its dedication. So G-d compensated Kislev by virtue of the holiday of Chanukah, which celebrates the liberation and rededication of the second Holy Temple, which took place in Kislev.

Similarly, G-d compensated the month of MarCheshvan for its disappointment that Solomon's Temple wasn't dedicated during its days by promising that the future third Holy Temple will be dedicated in the month of MarCheshvan!

08/29/2023

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08/20/2023

Our main reading of the annual Torah cycle for this week is the forty–eighth portion, Parsha Shoftim ("Judges") Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9.
Shoftim addresses fundamental issues pertaining to the leadership of B’Nei Israel. It begins with a discussion regarding judges, and later gives rules pertaining to kings, prophets and kohanim (priests). Many commandments are introduced in this week’s reading, including: appointing judges, the obligation to follow rabbinic law and the words of the prophets, the obligations of a king, the punishment for perjury, the laws of war, and the procedure for dealing with unsolved murders.
Shoftim speaks HaShem’s word (through Moses) on a variety of topics, encouraging the Israelites to be diligent about administering their new nation in obedience to His commands. Of particular interest is the clear prophecy of the coming Messiah in Deuteronomy 18:14-20.

08/11/2023

05/01/2023

We have not truly left the slavery of Egypt until we have received God’s instructions and his Holy Spirit dwells within us enabling us to perform his will. In that sense the Counting of the Omer is a count that should count for something. This is not a passive count but an active count.

04/15/2023

Parshah of the week #27. Shemini

Our main and twenty-sixth reading of the annual Torah cycle for this week is Parsha Sh’mini [or Shemini] (“Eighth”) Leviticus 9:1–11:47.
Shemini is a continuation of the previous week's reading, Tzav, where we learned about the Tabernacle's seven-day inaugural ceremony. This week's reading opens on the eighth day, when HaShem’s presence descends upon the Tabernacle. On that day, Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu die when offering an uncalled-for incense sacrifice. The portion concludes with a discussion about the laws of Kosher and ritual purity.

03/11/2023

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THE RED HEIFER & THE GOLDEN CALF

This Shabbat we are reading in synagogue parashat Ki Tisa, (Exodus 30:11 - 34:35), in which the story of the sin of the golden calf is told. This Shabbat is also Shabbat Para, in which we also read from Numbers, chapter 19, verses 1-22, which discusses the red heifer (para aduma). It is only appropriate that these two Torah sections are being read on the same Shabbat.

What does the red heifer have to do with the golden calf? Our sages of old told a parable of a slave girl whose infant son defiled the king's palace with his excrement, and was therefore required to clean her child's mess. Relating this to the golden calf, our sages said, "Let the mother (the red heifer) clean up the child's mess (the golden calf)", and thereby repent for his defilement.

In Jewish tradition, the color red is often related to sin. In the spirit of the above parable, the red heifer comes to remind us of the incident of the golden calf, and at the same time enables us to atone for the golden calf.

This is but one attempt to understand the hidden meaning of the ordinance of the red heifer, whose ashes confer ritual purity of the highest possible level. Nevertheless, the ordinance of the red heifer, like any other ordinance, (chok, in Hebrew), is to be performed despite its ultimate meaning being beyond the ken of the human intellect.

[Parashat Para (Numbers 19: 1-22), is one of four special Torah readings read on Shabbat throughout the month of Adar, in anticipation of the upcoming holiday of Passover.]

12/18/2021

“Y en tu simiente serán bendecidas todas las naciones de la tierra, porque tú has obedecido mi voz.”