Two important questions need to be asked about the ten statements presented in Parshat Yitro, known colloquially as the Ten Commandments. Read More »

The Rabbeinu Bachya writes in his introduction to parshas Beshalach a novel explanation nconcerning Keriyas Yam Suf. Read More »

There is a very beautiful passage in the bible. When we crossed the Red Sea we were singing ‘Ze Keli Ve’anveihu’, this is my G-d and I make my G-d more beautiful, ‘Elokei Avi Va’aromemenhu’, the G-d of my Read More »

Life events are often sandwiched between two spiritual experiences: prayer and praise. We pray for our aspirations and we praise Him when they are fulfilled; we pray before a challenge Read More »

“Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him…” (13: 19) The Talmud relates that while Bnei Yisroel were preoccupied with obtaining the wealth of the Mitzrim, Moshe was ensuring that the remains of Yosef and his Read More »

“…they went for a three-day period in the Wilderness, but they did not find water” (15: 22) After emerging from the Red Sea, Bnei Yisroel traveled for three days without water to drink. Read More »

In the beginning – Bereshis (Bereshis 1: 1) The Baal Shem Tov taught: When the Moshiach comes, may it be speedily in our days, he will expound upon the letter combinations of each word in the Torah, from beginning Read More »

The Baal Shem Tov taught: One should pray as if he were awakening the dawn, and not the dawn awakening him. Read More »

I heard the following story many years ago. I don’t believe it was ever written up elsewhere. We have written it up once before. I believe it deserves to be heard again. Read More »

At the splitting of the sea, “The Malachei Hashores (the ministering angels) wished to say shirah (songs of praise). Read More »

“ ‘ Ki mechabdai achabeid (I, Hashem, honor those who honor Me).’ This refers to Pharaoh king of Egypt who showed Me honor because (when chasing after Yisroel) he went at the head of his army. Read More »

The Jewish Nation passed through the splitting of the sea and was finally free. The people were exposed to a divine revelation which even the greatest prophets did not merit to experience. Read More »

It has been said that a happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes. One attitude that invites happiness is to avoid complaining. Read More »

There are several questions that come to mind concerning the Manne. Just what was it anyway? We know how the Torah describes Manne as: ‘being round like coriander seed, but was white … and tasted like pastry Read More »

“Around midnight” 1 Doubt can be compared to midnight, which is the exact point of time separating the first half of the night from the second. Read More »

The stories in this week’s reading may seem disjointed, but in fact they form a single unit. A modern editor, looking for a groovy chapter title, might have called the collection, “Ancient Israel’s Bipolar Moment. Read More »

The Gemara expounds on the pasuk in Ki Tisa: Preserve the Shabbat for it is sacred to you. [Shemot 31: 14] It (the Shabbat) is sacred, but work sinfully done on Shabbat is not sacred. Read More »

When plague number ten, the death of every firstborn, struck, Pharaoh could contain himself no longer. “Get out of my country, get out from amongst my people.” He cried. Read More »

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