In this week’s sedra, Vayishlach, Yaakov (and his family) meet Eisav after Yaakov spent twenty years working at Lavan’s. Fearing Eisav’s wrath, Yaakov prepares for battle by dividing his large family into two camps, sending gifts of appeasement to Eisav, and praying for Divine protection...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeitzei, opens with Yaakov running away from Be’er Sheva, headed to Charan, where he will spend the next twenty years at the home of his uncle, Lavan. Fleeing the wrath of his brother Eisav, it is in Lavan’s home that Yaakov...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Toldos, after twenty years of marriage and a difficult pregnancy, Yitzchak and Rivka are blessed with twin boys. וַיִּמְלְאוּ יָמֶיהָ, לָלֶדֶת; וְהִנֵּה תוֹמִם, בְּבִטְנָהּ - When her term to bear grew full, behold! twins in her womb; וַיֵּצֵא הָרִאשׁוֹן אַדְמוֹנִי,...
In this week’s sedra, Chayei Sarah, we learn of the death of Sarah Imeinu, Avraham’s purchase of the Me’aras Ha’Machpela, and the burial of Sarah (Bereishis 23). After Sarah’s passing, Avraham realizes he must marry-off his son, Yitzchak (Bereishis 24:1 w/ Rashi), who will continue...
In this week’s sedra, Parshas Vayeira, the Torah continues its narrative of the life - and trials - of Avraham and Sarah. The sedra begins with the visit of the three angels (guests) to the tent of Avraham and Sarah. From this chapter we learn...
Parshas Lech Licha, the dawn of our history, the birth of our nation. And Hashem said to Avram: לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ - go to yourself, from your land, and from your birthplace, and from the house of your father, to...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Noach, we learn of the famous deluge that inundated the world, washing all life away, destroying the top layer of the earth itself, save for Noach, his wife Naama, Shem, Cham, Yafes and their wives, as well as the animals...
Bereishis 5783, Baruch she’he’chiyanu v’ki’yimanu v’hi’gi’yanu la’zman hazeh! Parshas Bereishis: Creation, Adam and Isha, the first sin, the first murder, exile, the generations from Adam to Noach, the corruption of man upon the earth. In a parsha more esoteric than revealed, in narratives beyond our comprehension,...
Shabbos Chol Ha’Moed Succos 5783, Zman Simcha’sainu. The menucha and oneg of Shabbos, the joy of Yom Tov, reflecting on the past days and looking ahead to the end of the chag. The culmination of our Elul avodah, the Yomim Noraim of Tishrei, and Chag...
Chag ha’Succos 5783, zman simcha’sainu - the time of our rejoicing. In regard to the mitzvos of Succos, the Torah tells us: וּלְקַחְתֶּ֨ם לָכֶ֜ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פְּרִ֨י עֵ֤ץ הָדָר֙ כַּפֹּ֣ת תְּמָרִ֔ים וַעֲנַ֥ף עֵץ־עָבֹ֖ת וְעַרְבֵי־נָ֑חַל וּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵ֛י ה’ אֱלֹק֔יכֶ֖ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים - And you shall take for...