In this week’s parsha, Parshas Va’eira, the Torah tells us of Pharaoh’s refusal to set the Israelites slaves free. As a punishment for this refusal, Pharaoh and his country, his advisors and citizens, meet the beginning of the end with the first of ten plagues,...
As we once again open up the book of Shemos, Sefer ha’Geula - the book of Redemption - with this week’s parsha, Parshas Shemos, we are abruptly thrust into the Egyptian enslavement, the cruelty and senseless nature of slave labor forced upon the Israelite slaves,...
As we once again conclude the first book of the Torah this Shabbos, perhaps it is appropriate to reflect on some lessons learned from Sefer Bereishis. In the Beginning. Bereishis. The Beginning. Sefer Bereishis is also known as: Sefer ha’Yetzirah: The Book of Creation. Sefer ha’Yashar:...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayigash, we learn of, what is perhaps, the most dramatic narrative in all of Sefer Bereishis. Faced with the impending imprisonment of the youngest brother, Binyamin, Yehuda steps forth and speaks harshly to the Egyptian viceroy. Shall you keep the...
In this week's parsha, Parshas Mikeitz, Yosef’s fate takes a drastic turn for the better. The Hebrew lad, torn from his land, family and home at the young age of seventeen, and who is thrown into jail shortly after his arrival in the home of...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeishev, Yaakov and his family have returned to Eretz Canaan, where Yaakov Avinu desires to live out the rest of his life in peace and quiet (see Rashi to Bereishis 37:2). Despite his longings for peace, the very opposite occurs,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayishlach Yaakov, we continue to journey with Yaakov Avinu and his family. After working for twenty years for trickster Lavan, and having arrived there with only a staff in his hand, Yaakov leaves a wealthy man - both in family...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeitzei Yaakov, we meet Yaakov Avinu as he is fleeing the wrath of his brother, Eisav, who has vowed to kill him over their father’s blessings. After an exalted dream, wherein Hashem assures Yaakov that his children will inherit the...
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...