Sefer Shemos, literally “The Book of Names,” begins with the words: וְאֵלֶּה, שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הַבָּאִים, מִצְרָיְמָה: אֵת יַעֲקֹב, אִישׁ וּבֵיתוֹ בָּאוּ, and these are the names of the children of Israel, who were coming to Egypt, Yaakov, each man and his household came: Reuven,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayechi, upon his deathbed and at the end of his life, Yaakov Avinu blesses each of his sons with their own unique bracha (Bereishis 49, Birkas Yaakov). To Shimon and Levi, his second and third sons born to Leah, he...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayigash, we learn of the great reunion between Yosef, his brothers, and his father, after a twenty-two year separation. When the brothers return to Egypt to procure food for a second time, due to the severe famine ravaging the land...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Mikeitz, Yosef the slave, the prisoner, the unwanted, suddenly becomes Yosef the viceroy. After Pharaoh dreams two disturbing dreams that no one can interpret to his satisfaction, the chief butler remembers that there is a Hebrew lad in jail who...
25 Kislev 5781 - Chanukah. On the evening of 25 Kislev, corresponding to Thursday evening, December 10, we kindle the first Chanukah candles. With the holiday of Chanukah, we commemorate and celebrate the victory of the small Maccabee army over the mighty Syrian-Greek forces, who...
As this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayishlach, opens, Yaakov and his family - his four wives and twelve children - are preparing for the historic confrontation with Eisav. After twenty years of separation, would Eisav still harbor hatred in his heart against Yaakov, and carry out...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeitzei, we learn of Yaakov’s flight from Beer Sheva, en route to Charan, as he flees the wrath of his brother, Eisav. It is there, at the home of Lavan, that he will marry his four wives - Leah, Zilpah,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Toldos, Yaakov and Eisav are born to Yitzchak and Rivka after twenty years of marriage. The parsha progresses quickly from their births (Bereishis 25), when Yitzchak is sixty years old (25:26), to Yitzchak’s old age, when he is ready to...
In this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, the Torah tells us of Sarah Imeinu’s passing at the age of one hundred and twenty seven years old. Following her death, Avraham Avinu negotiates the purchase price of the Me’aras Ha’Machpela, buys the cave and buries his beloved...
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...