Vayeira (Genesis 18-22 ) בס”ד Bereishis, 22:1-2: “And it was after these matters, and G-d tested Avraham, and he said to him, Avraham, and he said I am here. And He said, please take your son, your only son, who you love, Yitzchak…”Rashi, Bereishis, 22:1, Dh: Achar Hadevarim: …“And some say [it refers to] after… Read More »PARSHAT VAYEIRA – YISHMAEL AND THE BINDING OF ISAAC
Lech Lecha (Genesis 12-17 ) בס”ד Bereishit, 12:5: “And Avram took Sarai his wife, and Lot, his nephew, and all their property that they acquired and the souls (nefesh) that they made in Charan.”Rashi, Bereishit, 12:5, Dh: The souls that Avraham made in Haran: “That they brought them under the wings of the Divine Presence;… Read More »PARSHAT LECH LECH – ITS ALL ABOUT THE EFFORT
Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32 ) בס”ד Bereishit, 6:9: “These are the offspring of Noach, Noach was an Ish Tzadik (righteous man)…”Bereishit, 9:20: “And Noach, Ish Ha’adamah (the man of the ground) acted profanely, and planted a vineyard.”Bereishis Rabbah, 36:3: “R’Berachia says, Moshe is more beloved than Noach: Noach, [went from] being called Ish tzaddik (a righteous man), [to being] called Ish Adamah (man… Read More »PARSHAT NOAH – ITS ALL ABOUT THE DIRECTION
Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8 ) בס”ד Bereishit, 3:1: “And the snake was more cunning than all the animals of the field that Hashem, G-d made; And he said to the woman, even if G-d said, ‘do not eat from all the trees of the garden?”Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch, Bereishis, 3:1, Dh: Did G-d even say: “And even… Read More »PARSHAT BEREISHIT – THE TWO VOICES IN THE GARDEN
Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32 ) Devarim, 32:7: “Remember the days of old; understand the changes of each generation; ask your father and he will tell you; [ask] your elder and he will speak to you.” The verse in Haazinu instructs us to remember history and to understand the changes of each generation. The final… Read More »PARSHAT HA’AZINU – HISTORY THROUGH A TORAH LENS
Nitzavim (Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 ) Deut., 29:15-16: “For you have known how you lived in the Land of Egypt and how you traversed the nations whose countries you have passed through. You have seen their abominations and their detestable idols (es shikutzeihem v’et giluleihem) of wood and stone, of silver and gold that were… Read More »PARSHAT NITZAVIM – GETTING USED TO TRANSGRESSIONS
Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 ) When the Jewish people entered the land, they were to assemble at two mountains for a new acceptance of the Torah, but the command to do so is found already in this week’s Torah Portion. Twelve commandments were to be enumerated, and the people would acknowledge publicly… Read More »PARSHAT KI TAVO – ESTABLISHING TORAH
Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 ) Devarim, 21:10-11: “When you will go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem, your God will deliver him into your hand, and you will capture his captivity; and you will see among the captivity a woman who is beautiful in form, and you will desire her,… Read More »PARSHAT TI TEITZEI – AVOIDING TESTS
Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 ) “Who is the man who is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return to his house, and let him not melt the heart of his fellows to be like his heart.” (1) The Torah commands anyone who is afraid of going to war to leave the battlefield… Read More »PARSHAT SHOFTIM – OUR INFLUENCE ON OTHERS
Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17 ) The Torah forbids various forms of mourning that were prevalent among the non-Jewish nations. One of the reasons that these were forbidden is they were too excessive, ascribing a sense of permanency to death, when in truth, we know that the person’s soul continues to exist and lives… Read More »PARSHAT RE’EH – MOURNING FOR A PARENT
