“Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Tzafnat Paneach…” (Genesis 41:45). Rashi explains that this name means ‘he who explains the hidden’. However, the Sefas Emes noted that if this were the case, his name should have been Paneach Tzefunos. Why are the names reversed? The Sefas Emes explained that the name given… Read More »GENESIS 41:45 – THE HIDDEN EXPLAINED
In the Talmud, R. Ze’ira said: If a man goes seven days without a dream, he is called evil (Berachot 55b). The Vilna Gaon explained that during any seven day period, we will experience the Shabbat. If that elevated experience doesn’t wake a person up to realize that the mundane,… Read More »THE SEVEN DAYS
“Josef said to the wife of Potiphar who was trying to seduce him: How can I do this great evil and sin against G-d?” (Genesis 39:9). Since she’d be cheating on her husband and committing the sin of adultery, Josef should have said: How could we do this great evil… Read More »GENESIS 39:9 – NOT TOGETHER WITH SIN
“They took him (Joseph) and cast him into the pit; the pit was empty, no water was in it” (Genesis 37:24). Our sages took note of the seeming redundancy here. If the pit was empty, it had no water. The Talmud famously suggests that yes, it had no water –… Read More »GENESIS 37:24 – THE EMPTY PIT
“A man found him (Joseph) wandering in the field. The man asked him: What are you seeking?” (Genesis 37:15) If we are ever wandering in life, bewildered and unsure of our way – we have to clarify our desires and ask: What is it that I am truly seeking? (R’… Read More »GENESIS 37:15 – WHAT ARE YOU SEEKING?
“Your eyes are composed of white and black components, and you only see through the black.” (Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah 15:7) ___________________________________________________________________________________________ So often, it is only through the dark, painful moments in life that we really gain insight, clarity, and spiritual growth. “Man believes in himself and questions the Almighty… Read More »VERSES OF WISDOM
Jacob set up a monument over her grave; it is the monument of Rachel’s grave until today” (Genesis 35:20). The text doesn’t say that this was the monument for Rachel, only the monument of her grave. Rachel herself didn’t need a monument. Righteous men and women don’t need pillars of… Read More »GENESIS 35:20 – A PILLAR OF STONE
“And Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, but they seemed to him like a few days because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20). When we wait impatiently for something, a day can feel like a year. Here, because of the great love he had for Rachel, having to serve… Read More »GENESIS 29:20 – WAIT PATIENTLY
“And they (the two Hittite women that Esav married) were a source of bitterness to Isaac and to Rebecca.” (Genesis 26:35) The Midrash notes that the source of aggravation was because these women were idol worshipers. The Midrash also picks up on an interesting detail in the verse. It doesn’t… Read More »GENESIS 26:35 – A SOURCE OF BITTERNESS
“Abraham rose up from the presence of his dead” (Genesis 23:3). The Radomsker Rebbe understood this passage according to a teaching by Rabbi Eliezer cited in the Talmud (Shabbat 153a). He would always say we should do teshuvah (return to G-d) one day before we die. His students were puzzled… Read More »GENESIS 23:3 – RISE UP
