PARSHA & PROSE WITH RABBI SHLOMO GEMARA & AVRUM ROSENSWEIG: VAERA & ’EXODUS’ BY LEON URIS (Audio)

In PARSHA & PROSE, Rabbi Gemara and Avrum, discuss the Torah portion of Va'era, and its narrative that centers on God's reaffirmation of His covenant with the Israelites and the beginning of Moses' mission to confront Pharaoh, setting the stage for the dramatic liberation from Egypt. Through the lens of Leon Uris’ novel Exodus, this portion takes on a more expansive and humanistic dimension. Uris delves into the psychological and emotional struggles of the characters, particularly Ari Ben Canaan, who grapples with his own identity and divine mission. The novel's portrayal of Ben Canaans' doubts mirrors the themes of faith, perseverance, and the longing for freedom found in Va'era. Uris illustrates the tension between divine destiny and human agency, emphasizing that while the Israelites’ liberation is divinely ordained, it is also shaped by the courage and resolve of individuals. This duality, highlighted in the Torah text and brought to life in Uris’ narrative, underscores the complexities of divine intervention and the human spirit in the face of oppression. In SHIVIM PANIM, the beginning segment of PARSHA AND PROSE, Rabbi Gemara and Avrum schmooze about: a) the 'Brisker way' in learning, b) former Israeli Hostage, the very erudite and spiritual, Sapir Cohen, c) and the sensitivity of Judaism toward courts and convicted defendants.