Last week we examined the parsha and how Yaakov Avinu is the archetype of emunah. In our discussion, a difficulty was raised regarding Yaakov. When Yaakov encounters Paro, Paro asks about his age. Yaakov tells him the years of his life were few and difficult. The simple reading of the text leads us to the…
When discussing Emunah, Tefillah, and the Parsha, really this week is one of the best times to do it. In the sidra, Vayechi, we see the shevatim are given their brachos from Yaakov Avinu. Every Friday night a father recalls the brachos given to Menashe and Efraim. There’s so much here to cover.
There are times in history when we repent out of fear, and there are times when we repent out of love. We learn these attributes from the Avos. The Bobover Ruv brings a Midrash to teach us this concept…
In Parshas Toldos, Yaakov Avinu shows great hesitancy at the ruse of his mother to dress up as his brother to receive the Brachos. The Medrash teaches that Yaakov feared to appear like one who worshipped Avodah Zara.
Emunah is the cornerstone of observance and survival within Yiddishkeit. We have mitzvos to guide our observance, but without real emunah, we lack the necessary relationship with HaShem to bring our mitzvos to life. We, in essence, according to the kabbalists, create an angel that can do good but lacks a voice. Our kevanah is…
What is a whole year? Every year, when we read the parsha of Chayei Sarah, I review the Rashi about the years of Sarah’s life.
Rabbi Akiva Bruck writes, in his parsha sefer From Behind the Curtain on Parsha Vayeira, “[o]ne of the most fundamental ideas which the Chassidic masters wished to impart is that we all have the ability and the obligation to find the spiritual within the physical — to pull away the masks clothing this physical world…
The Yomin Noraim instill a sense of hesitancy, awe, and fear in the heart of a yid. The other holidays seem easy in comparison, at least from my perspective.
In parsha Nitzavim, we come across a theme of teshuvah to prepare us for Rosh Hoshanah and Yom Kippur. In fact, Nitzavim always precedes Rosh Hoshanah, so it seems quite timely that Ribono Shel Olam would give us this lesson.
In this week’s parsha we are given the mitzvos of bikkurim and maaser. It’s a very fascinating concept to receive these mitzvos just days away from Rosh Hashanah.
During these days of Elul, we find ourselves in a state of war. Elul is a season of war, but not one of base physical means. Rather, it is a month of spiritual war – a month when we are empowered to launch an attack on the yetzer hara.
What’s the value of having two of something? Personally, I like to have backups, but when it comes to Torah matters, a backup is useless – there needs to be a use, an application, otherwise there’s no point. So what’s the value in the king writing two sifrei Torah?
