Parshas Vayetze spans the twenty years spent by Yaakov Aveinu – the quintessential ish tam, man of integrity – in the inhospitable company of his sinister uncle, Lavan, a master of manipulation, deceit and double talk. From his initial embrace of Yaakov, which, Rashi notes, is actually a search for concealed valuables, Lavan is bent…
The Torah’s statement in Parshas Toldos that “Yitzchak prayed across from (lenochach) his wife” raises several questions. Rabbi Eliyahu Mizrachi asks: How could Yitzchak pray in front of Rivka? He would seem to be praying not to G-d but to his wife. The Maharal of Prague raises the issue of his being distracted by his…
Toward the end of Parshas Chaya Sarah, the Torah tells us that “Yitzchak went out lasuach -tomeditate – in the field before evening.” Chazal comment that Yitzchak went to the fields in order to pray (“Sichah,” our Sages say, “refers only to prayer”), and thus was instituted Tefillas Mincha, the afternoon prayer that all Jews…
In this parsha, G-d determines that the city of Sodom must be destroyed. But first G-d decides to inform Avraham of His decision. Why does G-d need to tell this to Avraham? Why does He, soto speak, “clear it” first with Avraham? Rashi, quoting the Midrash Tanchumah, explainsG-d’s reasoning: “I called Avraham ‘Av hamon goyim…
Parshas Lech Lecha (and Vayeira and part of Chaya Sarah) is not JUST an inside look atAvraham Avinu’s diary. We are not supposed to read what happened in his life, and that’sit. There is an interesting 14-year gap in Avraham’s life recorded in next week’s sedra. TheTorah tells us that Avraham was 86 years old…
The deluge that destroyed the world in the time of Noach caused a major upheaval in the physical makeup of the world. The geological and archeological evidence of these changes has baffled many a scientist, so much so that even skeptical scientists argue that some fossilized discoveries may be attributed to the Flood. Not only…
“When I call out the Name of HaShem, ascribe greatness to our G-d.” This calling out, according to the Malbim and Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, is one of Torah. Anyone who keeps the Torah and learns it learns the Name of HaShem. The Divine Presence rests upon him. A community calling out HaShem’s name, through…
More than any other Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu is blessed with detailed coverage of his life in theTorah From his prenatal condition, through his adolescence and into young manhood, he isforced to struggle with his contentious brother Eisav. He survives by his wit. Heeding hismother’s counsel, Yaakov contends for Yitzchak’s blessing, an act that brings forth…
Parsha Nitzavim “Ezra legislated that the curses enumerated in Parshas Ki Savo be read prior to Rosh Hashana so that the year may end along with its curses,” the Talmud teaches. Nonetheless, Tosafot adds, we read Parshas Nitzavim on the Shabbos immediately preceding Rosh Hashana to serve as a buffer, so that we do not…
The sedra of Ki Savo refers to the Jewish people entering the promised land. “And it shall be, when you come to the land, which the L-rd your G-d gives you as an inheritance…” In the days of Yehoshua, the disciple of Moshe Rabbeinu who lived about 3300 years ago, the Jewish people entered the…