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Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Toledot by Igal

Igal — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 00:47:56 +0000

Hello Chris, I am familiar with both stories, and the similarity of pattern intrigued me. I hope this answers your question, if not please ask me more specifically what you would like to know. And please excuse me for getting so long to reply, I have only just noticed your question.

Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Toledot by Chris Chandler

Chris Chandler — Sat, 14 Jan 2017 00:00:43 +0000

I too have noticed the parallels in the Jacob Esau story with the Mahabharata. I would like to know more about how you have made that connection.

Comment on My Ancestors by Igal

Igal — Tue, 17 May 2016 04:56:00 +0000

Dear Michel
In my childhood, someone gave my father a book about the Brody community (in Hebrew) which mentioned the Harmelin family. Unfortunately, neither my sister nor I can find the book–it was lost, probably when my parents moved an apartment in the late 70’s.
All the best
Igal

Comment on My Ancestors by Harmelin

Harmelin — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 16:47:06 +0000

Hello
My name is Harmelin and I’m living in France.
My father was born in Brody.
Please tell me what is the ‘old book about the Brody Jewish community which mentions that the Harmelin family members…’
Thanks
Michel

Comment on My Teachers by Maureen Staines

Maureen Staines — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 09:12:18 +0000

You saved me from complete despair in Israel dear Igal. It is good to read and hear of your thinking and life. It sounds very good – I hope that on this relative level you are happy. I know you are within. Maureen.

Comment on My Ancestors by Hanna

Hanna — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:03:48 +0000

Igal, it is very moving to light with you your Ner Neshama, and not only because I am a Harmelin too… Same Brody, same names: Zvi Harmelin was my paternal grandfather’s name, Sara Aksler was his wife’s; my late father was called Shalom Harmelin. The Rabbi and publisher of Hebrew books in Brody – Moses Arye-Leib Harmelin, and his wife Reisel – the daughter of his uncle Shaye Harmelin, were the ancestors of many Harmelins who live now in Australia, USA and Israel (the descendants of his sons Shalom, Shaye, Shimon, Shlomo and Yosef-David). The Kabbalistic Sefer HaZohar – which he printed about 150 years ago – dwells now at the national library in Jerusalem.
Like you, I have never met my Harmelin grandparents (and I had Harmelins on both sides, maternal and paternal); but since visiting Galicia, including Brody, few years ago, I find it a bit easier to miss them.
And yes, the fact that some of them were fur traders (hence the furry surname Harmelin which in German means ermine – the miserable weasel whose beautiful white winter fur was his terrible misfortune) doesn’t make me happy either :). But on the other hand, some other Harmelins said (according to the family lore): “We’d better sell yeast”; my grandfather did that, which explains my addiction to the smell of any yeast-driven dough and its fluffy incarnations…

I would like to wish you and your wife-to-be Mazal Tov and much happiness!
Hanna (from Mevaseret, near Yerushalayim)

Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Naso by Nicolas Levy

Nicolas Levy — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 09:53:16 +0000

Really good.
Please continue this blog.

Thank you…

Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Shelach by NicolasLevy

NicolasLevy — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 09:47:34 +0000

I really like this blog, please continue it…

It is really good…

Thank you.

Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Beshalach by On the Weekly Torah Portion of Naso

On the Weekly Torah Portion of Naso — Mon, 26 May 2014 23:49:33 +0000

[…] And another German teacher, although much earlier than Luther, who understood God’s speech as an something that occurs within one’s consciousness was Meister Eckhart (1260 – 1327). See previous mention, on the commentaries of both Acharey Mot and Beshalach. […]

Comment on On the Weekly Torah Portion of Shemot by On The Weekly Torah Portion Tetsaveh

On The Weekly Torah Portion Tetsaveh — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:45:32 +0000

[…] soul from boundaries in duality to freedom in unity (see commentary on the weekly Torah portion of shemot). Now the text combines this metaphor with another—the one about building a mishkan. Again, it is […]