In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeira, we meet Avraham Avinu three days after his bris milah (Rashi to Bereishis 18:1), when the pain is the most intense. As the parsha opens Avraham is sitting at the entrance to his tent, waiting for passersby so that...
Parshas Lech-Licha: the journey of one man that launched a nation. In the ten generations from Noach to Avraham, mankind forgot about G-d and reverted back to their pagan ways. As the Sages teach (Avos 5:2): עֲשָׂרָה דוֹרוֹת מִנֹּחַ וְעַד אַבְרָהָם, לְהוֹדִיעַ כַּמָּה אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם לְפָנָיו,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Noach, as a result of the sinful ways of mankind, Hashem destroys the whole world in the Deluge, saving only Noach, his wife Naama (Rashi to Gen.4:22), their three sons Shem, Cham and Yafes, and the wives of their sons. In...
5781. A new year. New beginnings. A new cycle of Torah reading and learning. Bereishis. בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אלקים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ - In the beginning, G-d created the heavens and the earth (Bereishis 1:1). Parshas Bereishis: The creation of the world; the formation of man and...
Dear Friends, I hope you are all enjoying a meaningful yom tov. Please join me this evening, b’ezras Hashem, Thursday, October 8 for a special live-stream shiur, presented as part of YU’s Hoshana Rabba Leil Iyun. I will be speaking at 8:45pm. Register at: https://www.yutorah.org/hoshanarabba/ See the attached...
Chag Ha’Succos 5781. And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם, לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה, חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, לַה, Speak to the Children of Israel, saying: on the fifteenth of the seventh month is a festival of Succos for seven...
We now find ourselves in the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, the Ten Days of Repentance, which began on 1 Tishrei, Rosh Hashana, and end with the setting of the sun on 10 Tishrei, Yom Ha’Kippurim, the Day of Atonement. These ten days are a time of introspection,...
Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is upon us. The final days of 5780 are fleeting, as 5781 enters. Jews the world over will observe the upcoming Days of Judgement with awe and trepidation, as the King of all kings sits upon His throne of...
Parshios Nitzavim-Vayelech: The final Shabbos of Elul and 5780. The transition from the old year into the new. Final lessons from the life of Moshe Rabbeinu, as we approach the conclusion of the book of Devarim. Reflecting on the past year as we move into...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, opens with the mitzvah of Bikkurim, the bringing of the first fruits of the shivas ha’minim (Deut.8:8) up to the Temple. In a most beautiful and moving passage, the verses describe the process of the Bikkurim offering, as well...