1. IF YOU OBEY G-D YOUR LORD, AND DO WHAT IS UPRIGHT IN HIS EYES … (15:26)

Obeying G-d.

… Sometimes it’s easy to know exactly what that means.

Because certain things in life are pretty much black and white.

Theft. Murder. And so on.

We know they’re bad. So we don’t do them.

… But sometimes it doesn’t seem so simple. (more…)

Remembering our history. That we were once slaves in Egypt.

In Judaism it’s an obligation.

Something we should never forget. (more…)

1. JOSEPH WAS PLACED IN THE DUNGEON WHERE THE KING’S PRISONERS WERE KEPT. SOON AFTER THAT, PHARAOH WAS ANGRY AT TWO OF HIS SERVANTS … THEY WERE PLACED IN THE SAME DUNGEON WHERE JOSEPH WAS IMPRISONED. WHEN JOSEPH CAME TO THEM IN THE MORNING, HE SAW THEY WERE UPSET. “WHY DO YOU LOOK SO WORRIED TODAY?” HE ASKED. (39:20 – 40:4)

Joseph. One of the most famous people in the Bible.

His story is one that we can relate to. (more…)

1. AND A MAN FOUGHT WITH JACOB UNTIL THE MORNING … (32:25)

According to Jewish mystical tradition, this was not an ordinary fight.

Jacob’s battle with the stranger is symbolic of an eternal struggle.

It’s about the forces that would destroy us. And our battle for survival. (more…)

1. AND JACOB SAID TO THEM, ‘MY BROTHERS. FROM WHERE DO YOU COME?’ … AND HE SAID, ‘IT IS STILL THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. IT’S NOT YET TIME TO BRING IN THE SHEEP. WHY NOT WATER THEM, AND GO ON GRAZING …’ (29:4-7)

It was just a small incident.

Jacob sees some workers ‘goofing off’. Standing around, instead of doing their job.

It would have been easy to ignore it. (more…)

1. AND ESAU SAID, I AM GOING TO DIE … (25:32)

Isaac and Rebecca are married and have no children.
Finally, Rebecca gives birth to twins. Esau and Jacob.
As the older brother, Esau had the “birthright”. (more…)

1. ISAAC … MARRIED REBECCA …’ (24:67)

Rebecca. One of the founding mothers of the Jewish People.

Married to Isaac. Abraham’s son. The first Jewish child.

What do we know about her? What made her the right person?

The Torah stresses one thing. (more…)

1. AND G-D SAID TO ABRAHAM …’ (12:1).

Abraham. Possibly the most influential person in history.

He taught the world about G-d.

That there’s a G-d Who demands morality. And ethics.

And Abraham also taught the world (more…)

This week’s CTN Shabbat Fax is sponsored by all of us at CTN and the entire extended CTN Family, wishing a huge ‘Mazel tov’ to Yehuda Spielman on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah this Shabbos. May you continue in the ways of your wonderful parents and grandparents and grow to be a wonderful human being and a great Jew! We are so proud of you!

1. AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED IN G-D. AND HE CONSIDERED IT TO BE A KINDNESS.’ (15:6).

Abraham. One man. Who changed an entire world.

He did so much for G-d. (more…)

This week’s CTN Shabbat Fax is sponsored by the Deutsch Family, in memory of Rae Daniel z”l, a truly special and beloved person. She was a unique combination of scholarship, piety, sincerity, and tremendous dedication, whose passing in October 1992 (2 Mar Cheshvan 5753) left an immense void in the hearts of her family, friends and students. During the many years that she taught in Hebrew schools, she was more than just another teacher. She was that rare individual who truly inspired her students with love of Judaism, tradition and the Land of Israel. In the words of a parent of two of her students “… she touched our lives, and opened a new world for Amy and Leah …”. The CTN Shabbat Fax tries to represent all that Rae Daniel was. We pray that her memory be blessed, as the Shabbat Fax continues to bring Jewish thought and inspiration to more and more people.

1. THE GREAT FLOOD.

Many ancient cultures had the story.

But the Torah is unique. (more…)