Abraham responded and said: Behold, now, I wanted to speak to my Lord, although I am but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27). Rabbi Simcha Bunim of P’shischa taught: Every person should have two pockets. In one pocket should be a piece of paper saying: I am but dust and ashes.… Read More »GENESIS 18:27 – TO HAVE TWO POCKETS
“You shall make a skylight for the ark…” (Genesis 6:16) The word for skylight, ‘tzohar’ means illumination. The word for ark, ‘teivah’ also means word. Based on this, the Baal Shem Tov suggested that there is an embedded message for us in this verse. We are supposed to illuminate the… Read More »GENESIS 6:16 – ILLUMINATE WORDS
Inspiration from Rav Moshe Weinberger Parshas Noach 5775 Alone Together When Noach was born, the world was already quickly descending into a state of depravity. He was therefore the world’s hope. That is why his father Lamech named him Noach, which is related to the word “comfort,” saying (Bereishis 5:29),… Read More »ALONE TOGETHER
“Everything is full of riches and greatness, everything aspires to ascend, to be purified, and to be elevated. Everything recites a song, offers praise, magnifies, exalts; everything builds, serves, perfects, elevates, and aspires to unite and to be integrated… The realization dawns on us that were it not for the… Read More »THE UNITY OF EXISTENCE
…and for all the great might and awesome power that Moses displayed before all of Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:12) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) We can say that the purpose of everything that Moses did, and ultimately the purpose of the entire Torah is… Read More »CONNECTING THE END OF THE TORAH TO THE BEGINNING
“G-d’s greatness is unfathomable. That is why Teshuvah (repentance) has such power. No matter how far you may have fallen – be it to the lowest depths – never despair, because you can always return to G-d. This is because of His unfathomable greatness! Nothing is beyond His power. Just… Read More »YOU CAN ALWAYS RETURN
“You don’t learn by having faith. You learn by questioning, by challenging, by re-examining everything you’ve ever believed. And yet, all this is a matter of faith – the faith that there is a truth to be found. It is another paradox: To truly question, you must truly have faith.”… Read More »LEARN BY QUESTIONING
At the end of the day, all I really want is to be a little wick for the endless Flame of the Infinite One. “Ner Hashem nishmas adam.” – A person’s soul is the Lamp of Hashem (Proverbs 20:27) Master of the world, please help me “let You in” to… Read More »PROVERBS 20:27 – BRING IN YOUR LIGHT
The word “Torah” is related to at least two other words: (1) Ohr, which means light. The Aramaic translation of Torah is Oraissa, which means Light. (2) The root ‘yrh’ – which means to shoot or project. Torah, of course, is meant to illuminate our world and our lives. It… Read More »THE LIGHT OF TORAH
Akavya ben M’halalel taught that one of the things to keep in mind that will prevent you from coming to sin is to know before Whom you will ultimately have to give a ‘Din V’cheshbon’ – judgment and reckoning. (Pirkei Avos / Ethics of the Fathers 3:1) The Vilna Gaon… Read More »JUDGEMENT AND RECKONING
