This week's Torah portion describes the last of the 10 plagues: Death to all firstborns in Egypt. Rav Noah describes the harshness of the decree, and the price every Jewish firstborn had to pay to be excluded from it. Hear the vital lesson this plague teaches us, and the choice we all have to escape it.
At Kiryas Yam Suf G-d bestowed enormous prophetic vision to His beloved Jewish nation. Soon after Moshe leads them into the hot and dry dessert for three days - without water! They ask Moshe “What should we drink?” Under the circumstances is this how they should have addressed Moshe? Rav Noach explains the nature of and correction for this corrosive attitude.
On the eighth day after assembling and disassembling the Ohel Moed the people asked Moshe when will God appear? Moses said today. And sure enough Hashem sends down a fire and ‘licks up’ their heartfelt sacrifices. Then suddenly a tragedy occurs. Nadav and Avihu were smitten by a different fire that God sent. Why? What is the message? What did we leave out ?
A person’s name is much more than just a name. In fact the name Moshe was not given by his father or by God. And rarely were his other nine names used. Rav Noach looks into the concept of how our ‘intentions’ will change the way our lives unfold.
The well of Miriam stopped giving water the moment she died. Is it necessary to hear frightening outcomes that shake us up? Would you agree that God's world in general runs amazingly smooth with bumps along the way. Rav Noach makes some distinct points about cause and effect, and the lack of sensitivity to how our actions affect others.
Would Midyan have tried to seduce any other nation with the same malicious venom they directed at Jewish spirituality? "Of course not" says Rav Noach. The world at large has a special dislike for the Jewish worldview which brings in its wake higher consciousness. So he asks "Do we hate ourselves as well, and in the same way?"
Pesach is the time of our quintessential experience of freedom. Indeed, we proclaim at the Seder that we are still slaves, and we hope to be freed by next year. Do we really know what we’re talking about as we lift the matzah? Rav Noah exhorts us to think about what we’re doing as we’re doing it, and gives a powerful message to take into your Pesach Seder.
Fast days commemorate a specific event in history. They are also a special time for introspection, change & correction. Hear Rav Noah's account of what the 10th of Teves is about, and our opportunity to affect a tikun.
Our holidays are times of growth and opportunity. Rav Noah points to an opportunity of growth this Chanukah and how to appreciate the miracle. If you are looking for an inspirational challenge this Chanukah, this may be an interesting place to start.
What is the anticipation of counting from 1 to 49 - the goal of getting closer and closer to Shavuos? Perhaps it was our marriage on becoming civilized at Sinai? Maybe it was the gift of life? Rav Noach shows us the ultimate goal we all strive for.