In this week’s parsha, Parshas Noach, we learn of Noach, who was an אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו, a righteous man, pure, in his generation; Noach walked with G-d (Bereishis 6:9). In the ten generations from Adam to Noach, the people had forgotten G-d, Who...
Sefer Bereishis, Parshas Bereishis; Baruch she’he’chiyanu v’ki’yimanu v’hi’giyanu la’zman ha’zeh! With the yomtov season behind us, and the cold, dark days of winter ahead of us, we relish with excitement, once again, the privilege of beginning from The Beginning. Though we read, and learned, Bereishis last...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayelech, Moshe continues to prepare for his upcoming demise, soon to take place on the eastern banks of the Jordan River. He is commanded to write the song of Torah, to teach it to the Bnei Yisrael, to place it...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Nitzavim, we learn about the mitzvah of teshuva, repentance. Not for naught is this parsha read before Rosh Hashana, as it reminds us of leaving our sins behind and returning in purity and holiness to G-d. וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד-ה’, וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְקֹלוֹ,...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, begins with the mitzvah of Bikkurim, the dedication of the first fruits of the shivas ha’minim (seven species of the Land, Devarim 8:8), and the bringing of the fruits up to Yerushalayim, to the kohen in the Beis Ha’Mikdash. ...
This week’s parsha, Ki Seitzi, ends with an account of the battle of Amalek against Am Yisrael (see Shemos 17). זָכוֹר, אֵת אֲשֶׁר-עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק, בַּדֶּרֶךְ, בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם - Remember what Amalek did to you, on the way, when you were leaving Egypt; that he...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah famously instructs us: צֶדֶק צֶדֶק, תִּרְדֹּף לְמַעַן תִּחְיֶה וְיָרַשְׁתָּ אֶת-הָאָרֶץ - Righteousness, Righteousness shall you pursue, so that you may live and take possession of the land that Hashem, your G-d, is giving you (Devarim 16:20). Rashi (ibid)...
This Shabbos Kodesh and Yom Rishon (Shabbos and Sunday) we mark the days of Rosh Chodesh Elul… It is hard to believe, but it is Elul once again. The final, impactful, hopefully awe-inspiring, stirring month of the year. If we have been lax in our avodas...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Eikev, Moshe reminds the Bnei Yisrael of the Divine food, the Heavenly manna, that sustained them for their forty-year desert wanderings. הַמַּאֲכִלְךָ מָן בַּמִּדְבָּר, אֲשֶׁר לֹא-יָדְעוּן אֲבֹתֶיךָ: לְמַעַן עַנֹּתְךָ, וּלְמַעַן נַסֹּתֶךָ לְהֵיטִבְךָ בְּאַחֲרִיתֶךָ - (Do not forget Hashem) Who feeds...
This week’s parsha, Parshas V’Eschanan, opens with Moshe’s fervent tefillos, asking Hashem that he be allowed into Eretz Yisrael - a request which, ultimately, was denied. Moshe reviews the Aseres Ha’Dibros (The Ten Commandments) with the people, reminding them (and us) of our obligations to...