FRIDAY NIGHT
A weekly Torah publication for the family Shabbat table, with insights on the Sedra connecting ancient wisdom to contemporary life. Print out before Shabbat. There is a page for teens upwards and a page for younger people.
This Week
Parashat Vaetchanan
Erev Tish’a B’Av / Tish’a B’Av / Shabbat Nachamu
The Divine Plan
5770 (≈ 2009-2010)
The poignant opening of the Sedra in which Moses pleaded with G-d to enter the Holy Land, connecting this to the broader Divine plan of exile and eventual redemption. The sheet explores why G-d chose the path of exile and Temple destruction rather than the more direct route of Moses entering the Land.
Double Consolation
5772 (≈ 2011-2012)
The idea of double consolation, using the Shabbat of Consolation following Tisha B'Av and the theme of Moses's request to enter the Land being denied. The paradox is that Moses's weaker successor Joshua ultimately achieved something greater: a combination of direct Divine leadership from above with human leadership from below.
The Ten Commandments
5771 (≈ 2010-2011)
On the Ten Commandments as described in the Sedra, exploring what the Jewish people were looking for: a reasonable lifestyle or a gateway to the infinite holiness of the Divine. The Sages teach that while the full spiritual goal was not achieved in Moses's time, it is the direction of our ongoing development.
The Shema Perspective
5769 (≈ 2008-2009)
On the Shema as the ideal daily Jewish prayer, exploring its commandments including tefillin and mezuzah. The significance of binding tefillin on head and arm, representing the dedication of mind and action to G-d, is explained as the key Jewish act for males.
Being Alive To The Full
5774 (≈ 2013-2014)
The concept of cleaving to G-d through the verse from the Sedra, examining three levels of connection: Torah study, prayer and performing mitzvot. The Baal Shem Tov's teaching that Divine radiance is present in Hebrew words of prayer means that heartfelt prayer is a deeply intimate coming close to G-d.
Bereishit
- Divine Wedding (5774)
- The Rejoicing Of The Law (5771)
- The Torah And The Jewish People (5775)
- The Sacred Shabbat
- The Sacred Shabbat (5769)
- Abel Through The Ages (5773)
- World Of Light (5770)
- The Sacred Shabbat
- The Sacred Shabbat
Noach
- Science And Torah (5770)
- Turmoil And Tranquillity (5774)
- Noah’S Flood (5773)
- Images Of Peace (5772)
- The Divine Image (5771)
- To See And Not To See (5775)
- Dealing With The Flood (5769)
Lech Lecha
- Rags To Riches (5773)
- Chosen People (5770)
- Always Advancing (5775)
- The Jew And The Land (5774)
- Bringing Blessing (5772)
- Thought Or Action? (5771)
- Sharing The Light (5769)
Vayera
- Evil Transformed To Good (5770)
- The Body Is Also Holy (5775)
- Flow Chart Of Goodness (5774)
- Keeping One’S Balance (5773)
- Responsibility (5772)
- Hospitality (5771)
- The Step Beyond Self (5769)
Chayei Sara
- Connecting Higher And Lower (5774)
- Freedom Of The Individual (5773)
- A Special Place (5772)
- Using Time To The Full (5771)
- Feminine Power (5769)
- Body And Soul (5770)
Toledot
- Rights And Responsibilities (5770)
- Jewish Marriage: A Dwelling For The Divine (5774)
- The Good Side Of Esau (5773)
- Strength Of Character (5772)
- Discovering Jacob (5771)
- Esau And His Wives (5769)
Vayeitze
- Sheep, Children Or Leopards? (5770)
- Dealing With The World (5769)
- Joining Worlds (5774)
- Torah Study And The World (5773)
- The Sleep Of Jacob (5772)
- Priorities (5771)
Vayishlach
- The Essence And The Everyday (5770)
- Crystals (5774)
- The Meaning Of The Dots (5773)
- Men Of Vision (5772)
- Jacob And Israel (5771)
- Resisters And Affirmers (5769)
Vayeishev
- Teachings Of The Menorah (5773)
- Staying On The Swing (5769)
Vayeshev
- Risk All To Gain All (5770)
- Communicating Spirituality (5774)
- Transforming The World (5772)
Miketz
- When Opposites Join (5772)
- Religion And Action (5770)
- Chanukah For The Whole Year (5774)
- The Drama Of History (5773)
- Responsibility For The World (5769)
- Working For Miracles (5771)
Vayigash
- Making Sense Of The Puzzle (5770)
- The Inspiration Of Leadership (5774)
- Two Kinds Of Power (5773)
- Meeting Points (5772)
- The Wider Story (5771)
- Action And Meaning (5769)
Vayechi
- Achievement And Caring (5774)
- Is This Life? (5773)
- Dealing With Adversity (5772)
- Who Are We? Jacob, Joseph Or Both? (5771)
- Sight And Sound (5769)
Shemot
- Spiritual Identity (5779)
- From Moses To Moses (5778)
- Spiritual Identity
- Spiritual Identity (5770)
- The Power Of Invention (5775)
- Thrown Into The River (5774)
- Eternal Freedom (5773)
- What’S In A Name? (5772)
- Dimensions Of Identity (5769)
- Dimensions Of Identity (5777)
- Women As Scholars And Activists (5776)
Va'era
- Levels Of Freedom (5778)
- Moses And Aaron (5777)
- Moses And The World (5776)
- Levels Of Redemption (5775)
- To Be Calm And To Care (5774)
- Breaking Free (5773)
- Transforming Indifference (5772)
- The Divine Staff (5771)
- Mind And Heart (5769)
Bo
- Sanctifying Time (5778)
- The Generation Of Redemption (5770)
- Leaving Egypt Every Day (5777)
- Moses Versus Pharaoh (5776)
- Last Steps To Redemption (5775)
- Bringing Light To Darkness (5774)
- Sign Of Freedom (5773)
- Trapped? Not Trapped! (5772)
- The Challenge Of Communication (5771)
- Sanctifying Time
Beshalach
- Singing A Song As One (5770)
- When To Fight (5775)
- Returning To The Garden (5774)
- Tiie Essence Of Judaism (5773)
- Double Life (5772)
- The Spiritual Dimension (5771)
- A Glimpse Beyond The Veil (5769)
Yitro
- Unity in Diversity (5773)
- Unity In Diversity (5773)
- Transforming The World (5779)
- Constant Revelation Of Torah (5778)
- Transforming The World (5770)
- The Engraved Tablets (5777)
- Revealing The Hidden (5776)
- Kingdom Of Priests (5775)
- Divine Democracy (5774)
- Unity In Diversity (5773)
- The Foreigner Within (5772)
- The First Word Anokhi Is In Egyptian (5771)
- Revolution And Evolution (5769)
Mishpatim
Terumah
- For G-D All Things Are Possible (5770)
- Changing Bad Into Good (5774)
- The Sanctuary In The Heart (5773)
- Waking Up (5772)
- Colours In The Soul (5771)
- The Temple At Home (5769)
Tetzaveh
- Leadership: Making The Connection (5774)
- The Private Dimension (5771)
- The Task Of Leadership (5773)
- Amalek Within (5772)
- Unity Is Strength (5769)
- The Self-Sacrifice Of Leadership (5770)
Ki Tisa
- Sacred Script (5770)
- Commitment And Prosperity (5774)
- Repair (5773)
- The Half Becomes Whole (5772)
- Complicated People (5771)
- Washing The Hands (5769)
Vayakhel
- The Temple In Heaven And On Earth (5774)
- Creating The Jewish Home (5771)
Pekudei
- Beyond The Usual Pattern (5774)
- Levels Of Commitment (5771)
Vayakhel-Pikudei
- Showing The Books (5770)
- Means To An End (5773)
- Gathering Together (5769)
- Coming In From Outside (5772)
Vayikra
- A Moment Of Dedication (5778)
- Connections (5770)
- Temple Technology (5777)
- Dealing With Amalek (5776)
- Sacred Moments (5775)
- Goodness And Holiness (5774)
- Humility (5773)
- Arousal From Above, Response From Below (5772)
- Both Great And Small (5771)
- Individual And Community (5769)
- Vayikra Double 5764 (5764)
Tzav
- Flames On The Inner Altar (5772)
- Getting Rid Of The Leaven (5770)
- The Megilla In The Present (5774)
- Appreciation (5769)
- Tzav Dedic Double 5764 (5764)
- The Temple Within (5771)
Shemini
- Getting The Slavery Out Of Us... (5770)
- Silence (5774)
- Recognitions
- The Next Step (5772)
- Keeping The Balance (5771)
Tazria
- Spiritual Birth (5774)
- Making The First Step (5771)
Metzora
- Possibilities - Bad Leads To Good (5774)
- Transforming The Leper (5771)
Tazria-Metzora
- Existence And Torah (5770)
- Flourishing….! (5773)
- Doctors Of The Soul (5772)
- Kindness Is The Key (5769)
Acharei
- Two Kinds Of Holiness (5774)
- If You’Re Looking For Holiness, Go Home (5771)
Kedoshim
- The Central Teaching (5774)
- Turning Holiness Upside Down (5771)
Acharei-Kedoshim
- Borders (5769)
- Keeping One’S Feet On The Ground (5770)
- What Is Life? (5773)
- Simplicity
Emor
- Emor / Lag BaOmer (5764) (5764)
- The Radiance Of Torah (5770)
- Educating Oneself And Others (5774)
- Bringing Light To The World (5773)
- Self And Society (5772)
- Singularities (5771)
- Tzedakah (5769)
Behar
- The Sacred Land (5774)
- From Sinai (5771)
Bechukotai
- How To Enjoy Judaism (5774)
- Transforming The World (5771)
Behar-Bechukotai
- The Intention Behind The Action (5773)
- Humility And Strength
- Inner Realities (5769)
- Putting Things Right (5770)
Bemidbar
- Love Your Fellow (5773)
- The Secret Of Shavuot (5772)
- Bemidbar Shavuot 64 (5764)
- Breaking Through Barriers (5770)
- Actualising Jewish Identity (5771)
- Unity And Difference (5774)
- We Will Do And We Will Hear (5769)
Naso
- A Sense Of Uplift (5771)
- Confidence And Humility (5774)
- Making The Desert Bloom (5773)
- Changing The World For Good (5772)
- The Fifth Dimension
- The Fifth Dimension (5769)
Behaalotecha
- Beha'alotecha - Real People (2026)
- Moses, The Sanhedrin And The People (5769)
- Waiting For Miriam (5770)
- Facets Of The Menorah (5774)
- The Need Of The Time (5773)
- Menorah Imagery (5772)
Shelach
- The Meaning Of The Talit (5770)
- The Lesson From Job (5773)
- Creating Borders (5772)
- The Power Of Torah (5771)
- Preparing To Enter The Land (5769)
- The Too-Spiritual Spies (5767)
- A Visit To Hebron (5774)
Korach
- Jewish Leadership (2026)
- Spiritual Seeker Or Rebel? (5774)
- The Need For Distinctions (5770)
- Balance (5773)
- Double Perception (5772)
- Empowerment (5771)
Chukat
- Transformations
- Illuminations (5774)
- The Meaning Of The Mitzvot (5773)
- Journey Of The Soul (5772)
- Grandparents Of The Future (5771)
Balak
- Dwelling Alone (5770)
- Another Step Forward... (5774)
- Nation Of The Dream... (5773)
- Far Or Near (5772)
- Days Are Coming (5771)
Pinchas
- I’M Looking For Me (5769)
- Inspiration And Organisation (5771)
- Connections (5770)
- Dividing The Inner Land (5774)
- Sacred Intimacy (5773)
- Love Breaks Barriers (5772)
Mattot
- Balancing The Spiritual And The Practical (5774)
- Adding Rules? (5771)
Masei
- Stages Of Freedom (5774)
- Aaron And The Third Temple (5771)
Mattot-Masei
- The Path To Redemption (5769)
- The Moses Within (5772)
- Betrothal And Marriage (5770)
- Firmness And Movement (5773)
Devarim
- The Sleep Of Exile (5774)
- Stages In Giving The Torah (5773)
- The Optimistic View (5772)
- The True Translation (5771)
- A Way Of Becoming (5769)
Va'etchanan
- The Divine Plan (5770)
- Double Consolation (5772)
- The Ten Commandments (5771)
- The Shema Perspective (5769)
- Being Alive To The Full (5774)
Ekev
- The Inner Moses (5770)
- Gratitude For Israel, Jerusalem And Life (5774)
- Not On Bread Alone (5773)
- Dynamic Judaism (5772)
- Basic Concepts (5771)
- Blessings (5769)
Re'eh
- Increasing Profits (5770)
- Freedom To Choose (5771)
- Living In Context
- Elul: Month Of Love And Awe (5774)
- Why Shechitah Is Important (5772)
Shofetim
- Spiritual Leadership (5774)
- The Orchard (5773)
- Resisting The Pressure (5772)
- The Chain Of Tradition (5771)
- Mind And Heart (5769)
Ki Tetze
- No Temporary Marriage (5774)
- Choosing The Battle Of Life (5773)
- Two Wives - Two Souls (5772)
- Borders (5771)
- Double Standards (5769)
Ki Tavo
- Preparing For The Festivals (5778)
- Entering The Inner Land (5770)
- Uniting Life (5777)
- The Real Here And Now (5776)
- Awakening... (5775)
- Limitations And Freedom (5774)
- Are You Happy?
- Are You Happy? (5772)
- Discovering Everything, Today (5771)
- The Challenge (5769)
Nitzavim
- Choosing Life!
- Bridges (5773)
Vayelech
- From The Holy Of Holies To The World (5777)
- The Essence Of The Jew (5773)
- From The Holy Of Holies To The World (5779)
- Completing The Torah Scroll (5776)
Nitzavim-Vayelech
- United In Diversity (5769)
- Healthy Dynamic (5774)
- Is G-D In Exile? (5770)
- Consolidation And Advance (5771)
Haazinu
- The Final Teaching (5773)