With this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayechi, the curtain once again closes on the Book of Bereishis. As many times as we have journeyed and learned through the Book of Bereishis, it is always most impactful, enriching, and rewarding to do so once again. And every...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayigash, after Yosef’s shocking revelation, “I am Yosef, is my father still alive?” (Bereishis 45:3), Yaakov and his family descend, en masse, to Egypt. Yosef, the Provider and Viceroy of Egypt (and the entire ancient Middle East), will sustain his...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Miketz, freedom comes suddenly for Yosef ha’Tzadik, Yosef the righteous, who has languished for the past twelve years in Egyptian jail, after wrongly accused - and framed - of attempting to seduce Eishes Potiphar (Ch.39). After ten years in jail, one...
This Sunday evening, 24 Kislev 5780, corresponding to December 22, we will light the first Chanukah candle as we commemorate both the miracle of oil and the Maccabee victory over Antiochus and his men (B”T Shabbos 21b). Based on the teachings of R’ Avraham Yitzchak ha’Koken...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov Avinu is returning home to Eretz Yisrael after having lived for the past twenty years with Lavan, his uncle/father-in-law. During this time, he married his wives - Leah, Zilpah, Rachel and Bilhah, fathered eleven sons and one daughter,...
As this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeitzei, opens, we meet Yaakov Avinu on the run. Fleeing the wrath of his brother Eisav over the contested blessings, Yaakov is running to the home of Lavan, his uncle, where he will marry his wives and establish his family,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Toldos, after years of childlessness, Yitzchak and Rivka have twin boys, righteous Yaakov, who becomes our third patriarch, and wicked Eisav. As the boys grow up, their divergent personalities become apparent: וַיִּגְדְּלוּ, הַנְּעָרִים, וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד, אִישׁ שָׂדֶה;...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Chayei Sara, our righteous foremother, Sarah Imainu, dies at the age of one hundred and twenty seven years old - וַיִּהְיוּ חַיֵּי שָׂרָה, מֵאָה שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים--שְׁנֵי, חַיֵּי שָׂרָה. After much effort and negotiation by Avraham Avinu, and...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeira, we meet Avraham Avinu, our first father, in his role as a ba’al chessed par excellence. The parsha opens with Avraham greeting, and welcoming, the guests to his tent (Ch.18). Despite the pain of bris milah, on the third...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Lech Licha, we begin the age old journey with our first father and mother, Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imainu, once again. And Hashem said to Avram, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ, go for yourself, from your land, and...