Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3 ) In this weeks’ Torah portion, after Yaakov marries Rachel and Leah, the Torah tells us, “Hashem saw that Leah was senuah(literally, “hated”).”1 We know that Yaakov was initially supposed to marry Rachel, but the wily Lavan switched Rachel for her elder sister, Leah. Consequently, Yaakov married both Rachel and Leah.… Read More »PARSHAT VAYETZEI – REDEFING HATRED
Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9 ) Bereishit, 26:5: “Because Avraham heeded My voice, he observed My safeguards, My commandments, My decrees and My laws.Yoma, 28b: “Rav says, ‘Our father, Avraham kept the entire Torah as it says, ‘because Avraham heeded My voice… In the Torah Portion of Toldot, G-d blesses Yitzchak in the merit of his… Read More »PARSHAT TOLDOT – SHABBAT AND THE LAND OF ISRAEL
Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18 ) Bereishis, 24:14: “And it will be that the girl that I will say to her, ‘Please tip your jug and I will drink’ and she will say ‘drink’ and also, I will water your camels, You have proved that [she is fitting for] your servant, for Yitzchak, and… Read More »PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH – THE PERFECT SPOUSE
Vayeira (Genesis 18-22 ) Bereishis, 18:1: “And Hashem appeared to him [Avraham] in Elonei Mamrei…”Rashi, 18:1: Dh: B’Elonei Mamrei: “He [Mamrei] is the one that gave him the advice about circumcision, therefore, [Hashem] was revealed to him [Avraham] in his portion.Daas Zekeinim, 18:1: Dh: Vayeira: “…When the Holy One Blessed is He commanded him to… Read More »PARSHAT VAYEIRA – TEACHING BY EXAMPLE
Lech Lecha (Genesis 12-17 ) Bereishit, 13:14: “And HaShem spoke to Avram after the separation of Lot from him…” Rashi, Bereishit, 13:14, Dh: Acharei: “The whole time that that wicked one [Lot] was with him [Avraham], Prophecy was taken from him. And earlier, when Lot was with him, and it says, ‘Hashem appeared to Avram’… Read More »PARSHAT LECH LECHA – GIVING AT THE EXPENSE OF ONE’S OWN GROWTH
Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32 ) Bereishis, 6:9: “These are the offspring of Noach: Noach was a righteous man (tzaddik), pure (tamim) in his generations.”Bereishis, 7:1: “And G-d said to Noach, you and all your household, come to the Ark, because I have seen that you are righteous (tzaddik) before me in this generation.Rashi, 7:1: “And it… Read More »PARSHAT NOACH – LUST VERSUS IDEOLOGY
Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8 ) Rebbe Yitzchak said, ‘[God] need only have begun the Torah from ‘This month shall be to you” which is the first Commandment which Israel was commanded. For what reason did it begin with ‘Bereishit’?… So that if the nations of the world will say to Israel, ‘You are… Read More »PARSHAT BERESHIT – THE FIRST RASHI
Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8 ) Bereishis, 1:16: “And God made the two great luminaries; the great luminary to rule by the day, and the small luminary to rule by the night, and the stars.”Rashi, 1:16: Dh: The great luminaries: “They [the sun and moon] were created equal, and the moon was made smaller because it… Read More »PARSHAT BERESHIT – LEARNING FROM THE STARS
Deuteronomy 32 Devarim, 31:19: “And now write for yourselves this song, and teach it to the Children of Israel, place it in their mouth, so that this song will be for Me a witness for the Children of Israel.” God instructs each person to write their own Torah scroll (Sefer Torah)… Read More »PARSHAT HA’AZINU -THE SONG OF TORAH
Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 In this week’s Torah portion the Torah tells us: ““For this mitzvah that I command you today is not hidden from you and is not distant. It is not in the heavens for you to say ‘Who can ascend to the heavens for us and take it for… Read More »Parshat Nitzavim – Repentance from Love
