In this week’s parsha, Parshas Toldos, the second patriarch and matriarch, Yitzchak and Rivka, give birth to Yaakov and Eisav. Yaakov - later identified by the Sages as the בחיר שבאבות (the choicest of the patriarchs) is a simple man, a dweller of tents. He...
[This week’s dvar Torah is slightly longer than most; please read till the end, a request I generally do not preface the dvar Torah with, but this week, it is important that I do so.] In this week’s parsha, Parshas Chayei Sarah, Sarah Imainu, the first...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeira, we continue to journey with Avraham Avinu through his life tests. The myriad of topics delineated in this week’s parsha include: The visit of three angels to the tent of Avraham, along with the blessing that a child will...
Lech Licha, Journey forth for yourself. The ancient command that began one man’s journey; the ancient command that blazed the trail for our people from time immemorial; the ancient command that thus began the life, the history, the destiny of every single Jew - in...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Noach, we meet fascinating, passive-to-a-fault, righteous-in-his-times, simple-with-G-d, stunningly-quiet, industrious Noach. Noach was a simple man, yet compared to the people of his times, the Dor Ha’Mabul (generation of the Deluge) - who were steeped in idolatry, immorality, and robbery, he...
Bereishis - In the beginning, Hashem created the heavens and earth; Bereishis - In the beginning, there was confusion and chaos, emptiness and nothingness, and the breath of G-d, the spirit of G-d, the presence of G-d, hovered over the face of the water… In...
In Parshas V’Zos Ha’Bracha, the final parsha in Chamisha Chmushei Torah, which will be read on Simchas Torah, we read of the blessings Moshe bestowed upon the tribes of Israel prior to his death. In his blessing to Yosef, Moshe notes that Yosef is the נְזִ֥יר...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Ha’azinu, in the final hours of his life, as he prepares to take leave of the nation he has loved and led from slavery to freedom on the borders of the Promised Land, Moshe Rabbeinu waxes poetic and sings the...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayelech, we read of the terrible calamity of hester panim (concealment of the Divine Presence R”L), that may befall our people, should we stray after gods of others and forsake the covenant of Hashem. וְאָנֹכִי, הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Nitzavim, Moshe Rabbeinu continues to lovingly encourage, exhort, rebuke and teach the people as he prepares to part ways with his beloved nation: he to his death atop Mt. Navo, they to the Promised Land under the leadership of Yehoshua. Parshas...