by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz From Shechem to Aza the Tragedy of Dinah’s assault in the city of Shechem and current violence in Gaza/Aza The Consequences of Passive Complicity וּבְנֵ֨י יַעֲקֹ֜ב בָּ֤אוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה֙ כְּשׇׁמְעָ֔ם וַיִּֽתְעַצְּבוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹ֑ד כִּֽי־נְבָלָ֞ה עָשָׂ֣ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְכֵ֖ן לֹ֥א יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃ (בראשית ל״ד:ז) Meanwhile Jacob’s sons, having heard the news, came in from the ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz “And Esau ran to meet him, and he embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Bereshis 33:4) וַיָּ֨רׇץ עֵשָׂ֤ו לִקְרָאתוֹ֙ וַֽיְחַבְּקֵ֔הוּ וַיִּפֹּ֥ל עַל־צַוָּארָ֖ו וַׄיִּׄשָּׁׄקֵ֑ׄהׄוּׄ וַיִּבְכּֽוּ׃ רשי  “ויחבקהו. נִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ רַחֲמָיו, כְּשֶׁרָאָהוּ מִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה כָּל הִשְׁתַּחֲוָאוֹת הַלָּלוּ: וישקהו. נָקוּד עָלָיו; וְיֵשׁ חוֹלְקִין בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה בַּבָּרַיְתָא דְּסִפְרֵי, יֵשׁ שֶׁדָּרְשׁוּ נְקֻדָּה זוֹ שֶׁלֹּא נְשָׁקוֹ בְּכָל ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz Truth and Treachery? Israel and Her Enemies – Discerning Between Genuine Peace Seekers and Deceptive Pretenders In this week’s Torah portion, Parshas Vayeitzei, we learn of the trials and tribulations of Yaakov Avinu. One of the most striking aspects of Yaakov’s life was that he only married at 84 years old, remarkably late compared to ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz The Story of Lavan’s Sons – A Warning Against Fake News from Biased Sources   The Torah in Parshas Vayetzei records how “Lavan’s sons said, ‘Yaacov has taken all that is our father’s, and of that which is our father’s, he has made all this wealth’” Bereshis (31:1)  וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת-דִּבְרֵי בְנֵי-לָבָן לֵאמֹר, לָקַח יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz Rivka (Bereshis 27) devised a plan to secure Yitzchak’s blessings for Yaakov. Recognizing Esav’s unworthiness and Yitzchak’s failing eyesight, Rivka guided Yaakov to mimic Esav and take his blessings by bringing to Yitzchak favorite meal, usually prepared for him by Esav, and by donning Esav’s clothing to replicate his scent and feel. Though hesitant, Yaakov ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz Resisting Antisemitism Worldwide: Israel’s Unending Test for Survival, Success, and Peace. The world is witnessing an alarming resurgence of antisemitism, with the number of antisemitic attacks and incidents reaching record highs. Just last month, we saw one of the worst pogroms against Jews since World War II. This alarming trend is a stark reminder that ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz   Dear Brothers and Sisters, I write to you from a besieged Israel, where we have been engaged in a war for survival for over a month. Our soldiers are fighting heroically and with great courage to defend our land and people. From your vantage point in the diaspora, you must have many questions during this difficult ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz Israel is going through difficult times, and since Shabbat Simchat Torah, we have been witnessing the horrors that haunted our fellow Jews in the South, along with the continued casualties and atrocities of war. Many thoughts about what was and what could be trouble us, coupled with the persistent question of ‘why did this happen ...

by R. Eliezer Simcha Weisz In the case of Israel, there is a lot of misinformation and propaganda spread about the country, causing people to believe things that are not true. Why is this? Why are people oblivious to the truth even when faced with it? People tend to hear what they want to hear and see what they wish ...

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz’s office sent the following letter: