A Journey trought Divine Trials בס”ד Genesis 37:20-21 וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ לְכ֣וּ וְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּ וְנַשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד הַבֹּר֔וֹת וְאָמַ֕רְנוּ חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֖ה אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ וְנִרְאֶ֕ה מַה־יִּהְי֖וּ חֲלֹמֹתָֽיו׃ Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we can say, ‘A savage beast devoured him.’ We shall see what comes of… Read More »GENESIS 37:20-21: ARROGANCE VERSUS UNSHAKEABLE FAITH
UNRAVELING FEAR AND FAITH Genesis 35:11 “Jacob became very frightened, and it distressed him…” Genesis 32:8. After hearing that his brother Esav was coming toward him with 400 men, the Torah tells us of Jacob’s trepidation. However, during Jacob’s awesome dream of a ladder reaching up to the heavens with… Read More »GENESIS 35:11 – JACOB’S DISTRESS
When G-d Declares ‘Enough’ to Suffering Genesis 35:11 G-d then said to him, “I swear to you by My own eternal self, as G-d Almighty, that your progeny shall be fruitful and increase, eventually forming a great nation that will survive eternally and inherit the Land of Israel יאוַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ ל֨וֹ אֱלֹקים אֲנִ֨י… Read More »GENESIS 35:11 – DIVINE COMFORT
Discovering Hashem’s Presence through Humility “Jacob awoke from his sleep, and said: Behold, Hashem is in this place and I did not know” (Genesis 28:16). According to the Tifferes Shlomo, Jacob is exclaiming that he was able to sense the presence of Hashem in this place because he didn’t recognize… Read More »GENESIS 28:16 – TRANSCENDING THE ‘I’
2 Kislev 5784, 15 November 2023 “Flee to Lavan, my brother in Charan. Stay with him for a while until your brother’s anger subsides. Until the anger of your brother subsides from you…” (Genesis 27:43-45). Rabbi Abraham Twerski explains that these verses are not redundant. How was Jacob to know… Read More »GENESIS 23:3 – LIKE ONE’S REFLECTION IS SEEN IN WATER
28 Cheswan 5784, 12 November 2023 “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… Read More »GENESIS 23:3 – RETURN TO G-D THE DAY BEFORE YOU DIE
27 Cheswan 5784, 11 November 2023 בס”ד Introduction As we delve into the timeless verses of Psalm 67:2-4, we embark on a spiritual journey that navigates the intricate connection between divine favor, the symbolism of rain, and the profound teachings of the Torah. This sacred text invites us to contemplate… Read More »PSALM 67:2-4 – DROPS OF WISDOM; EXPLORING DIVINE BLESSINGS AND KNOWLEDGE
18 Cheshvan 5784, 2 November 2023 “And he (one of the 3 angels) said: I will surely return to you at this time next year, and behold Sarah your wife will have a son” (Genesis 18:10). Of course, Sarah did have a son – but scripture doesn’t record anything about… Read More »GENESIS 18:10 – WHAT IF WE DON’T FEEL OUR PRAYERS ARE BEING ANSWERED
17 Cheshvan 5784, 1 November 2023 “Avraham came forward (‘vayigash’) and said: Will You wipe out the righteous along with the wicked?” (Genesis 18:23) The word ‘vayigash’ appears three times in scripture in the context of someone coming forward and approaching another with a request. Here, where Abraham prays for… Read More »GENESIS 18:23 – THE MEANING OF ‘VAYIGASH’
13 Cheshvan 5784, 28 October 2023 “He took him outside and said: Look now to the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them. And He said to him: So will be your offspring” (Genesis 15:5). There are actually billions of stars, so are we to… Read More »GENESIS 15:5 – THE JEWISH PEOPLE WILL NOT GIVE UP!
