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...
As we prepare for the festive days of Chanukah, when many have family and friend gatherings, and many have a custom to eat dairy (https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/2788472/jewish/Cheese-and-Dairy-on-Chanuka.htm); This pasta dish is a tasty, filling and healthy recipe to add to your menu. I call it lasagna, even...
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,...
This is a great muffin when you want a healthy snack that is very low fat, and sweetened with all-natural sugars. The muffins are super quick to throw together, and the most “labor-intensive” part is cutting the dates. They freeze very well. Whole Wheat Date -...
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...