Why would someone risk their own comfort for a problem that does not directly affect them?
Pharaoh could not understand this question. When Moshe and Aharon confronted him, he assumed they were acting out of self interest. He could not imagine leadership rooted in responsibility rather than ego.
And on the surface, he had a point. As Leviim, Moshe and Aharon were not subjected to the crushing labor imposed on the rest of the Jewish people. They had every excuse to stay on the sidelines, focus on their own lives, and avoid trouble.
But leadership in Torah is not defined by personal comfort. It is defined by responsibility.
Pharaoh believed that people act only when there is something in it for them. Power, to him, meant control. That is why he completely misread Moshe and Aharon. He could not comprehend individuals willing to step into discomfort simply because others were suffering. That misunderstanding is what ultimately cost him everything.
What is remarkable is that the Jewish people had already endured generations of exile. They were worn down and oppressed, yet their spirit never disappeared. One reason was leaders who refused to detach themselves from the pain around them. When one Jew was hurting, they did not say, “This does not affect me.” They said, “This is on all of us.”
That idea runs through Jewish history. Every Jew is a leader in some way. In our homes, in our workplaces, and in how we show up for one another.
When we stop asking, “How does this affect me?” and start asking, “How can I help someone else right now?” we tap into something ancient, deeply Jewish, and profoundly powerful.
This same sense of shared responsibility is something we will explore together at our Lunch N’ Learn this Tuesday, as Rabbi Yosef Cohen leads a study of The Universal Code and the Seven Laws of Noach. These are ideas meant not only to be studied, but to be shared with the world around us, guiding the world how to live, lead, and care for others. I hope you will join Rabbi Cohen for this meaningful class.
This mindset is what ultimately led to the Exodus from Egypt, and it is what will bring us to the doorstep of the Final Redemption with the coming of Moshiach.
Rabbi Chaim and Chanie
THE COHEN CORNER
Freedom is not only about where you are, but about what fills your mind.
The Torah teaches that all exiles and redemptions are rooted in the first exile in Egypt. Egypt was not only a place of physical slavery. It was a system designed to crush the spirit through exhausting and meaningless labor. Kabbalah explains that this pattern repeats itself whenever the soul descends from heaven into the physical world. The soul longs to express something divine, but finds itself surrounded by routine and distraction instead. The key to the soul’s struggle to remain free within the limits of everyday life is the story of the Exodus.
Daily responsibilities do not disappear. Bills must be paid and errands must be run. What can change is what occupies our thoughts. Instead of letting routine drain us, we can fill it with meaning. Carry a Torah idea with you through the day. Think about it while driving or waiting in line. Reflect on it while shopping or doing chores. When the mind is engaged with something higher, routine no longer enslaves the soul. The body may be busy but the soul remains free.
Have a liberating Shabbos!
Rabbi Yosef, Chanale, Mushka & Mendel Cohen
UPCOMING CLASSES:
- Shabbos, Jan. 10, 9:00 am - Likkutei Torah - Kabbala of the Parsha - Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi's Masterworks on the weekly Parsha.
- 5 Sundays, Jan. 11-Feb. 1, 11 am - Hebrew Scouts: Level Up Your Hebrew! Dive into an exciting 12-week adventure with Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston! Strengthen your Hebrew reading, explore roots and word patterns, and boost your skills in a fun, friendly setting with Rabbi Yosef Cohen and team. www.chabaduptown.org/hebrew
- Monday, Jan. 12, 8:00 pm - שיעור שבועי בספר התניא עם הרב מני לע"נ יונה דוד ע"ה בן יפה תחי' פרנגר
- Tues. Jan. 13, 12 pm - Lunch N' Learn: The Universal Code - A deep dive into the 7 laws of Noach - www.chabaduptown.org/lunch
- Wed., Jan. 14, 8 pm - YJP & Moishe Pod: Guns & Moses: Protecting life without losing our soul - YJP Partners with Moishe Pod this week for Meat Tacos Dinner, Class & Social - Reply to this email for address location!
- 4 Wednesdays, Feb. 4-25, 7:30–9:00 pm - CYP Academy: How Success Thinks - Jewish Secrets for Leading a Productive Life. Complete the course and receive a $200 voucher to any upcoming CYP trip! www.yjphouston.org/winning
UPCOMING EVENTS:
- Thurs.-Sun., Jan. 16-18 - CYP Encounter Crown Heights Shabbaton - Join us as we head to NYC for the Encounter Crown Heights Shabbaton set to take place over MLK Weekend! A weekend like no other, a chance to connect with hundreds of Jewish young professionals from around the world and experience an unforgettable weekend in Crown Heights. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! www.yjphouston.org/nyc
- Friday, Feb. 6, 6:00 pm - Shabbat Shaloha - YJP First Fridays in Hawaii - Celebrate “Shabbat in Hawaii” with Young Jewish Professionals in their 20s and 30s at this month’s Hawaiian Style First Friday Shabbat Dinner & Cocktails www.yjphouston.org/shabbatshaloha
Our condolences to Pepi Joskowitz Nichols on the passing of her mother, Lusia "Louise" Stopnicki Joskowitz
SHABBOS PARSHAS SHEMOS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, TEVES 20
5:22 pm Shabbos Candle Lighting & Mincha
6:00 pm Kabbalat Shabbat
RSVP for Shabbat Dinner - www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
SHABBOS, JANUARY 10, TEVES 21
9:00 am Chassidus
10:00 am Services
Followed by Shabbos Kiddush & Farbrengen sponsored by the Scheiner Family in appreciation of Chabad of Uptown and YJP Houston and the Kamman family in honor of Chaim's birthday
5:20 pm Mincha
Torah Study
6:19 pm Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends
Living Torah
SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, TEVES 22
8:00 am Shacharis
MON. & TUES., JAN. 12 & 15, TEVES 23 & 26
6:45 am Shacharis