Putting In Your Entire Half
בס”ד Rav Shmishon Raphael Hirsch points out that at the end of Parshas Shekalim, the Torah issues a profound commentary on human accomplishment. Read More »
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Seeking G-d
בס”ד When Yisro joins the camp of the Israelites he is struck by an imbalance. The Jews, ever thirsting for the knowledge of G-d, seek Moshe out to learn from him. Yet, there is only one Moshe, and so, the people stand and wait “…from morning until night” [Shmos 18: 14]. Read More »
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Bonus Track – Woo Hoo !
Just to take a moment and be impressed and inspired by klal yisrael . When Yisro sees them standing all day to try to reach Moshe Rabbeinu and learn Torah from him – he tells Moshe that he won’t be able to keep it up. But the Jews didn’t lose faith. Read More »
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Bursting Forth In Song
בס”ד The Medrash [Shemos Rabba 23: 4] goes to great lengths to praise the Jewish people for singing a Shira to Hashem. Even implying that G-d was waiting for such a thanks since the beginning of time. Read More »
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To Speak or Not To Speak
בס”דMoshe keeps on referring to his own speech impediment by the term “ערל שפתים” which is loosely translated as “thick lipped”. Rashi teaches us that every instance where there is something coating or blocking a particular limb, it can be described as an “ערלה”. Read More »
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Know When To Hold ‘Em
בס”דOne of the most interesting points of the Parasha is Pharaoh’s attempts at controlling the Jewish population. He issues chilling orders to the Hebrew midwives, telling them to dispose of any male child before it’s first breath. Read More »
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Too Much, Too Fast
בס”דWhy did Reuven, the actual firstborn, not receive the birthright portion from Yaakov? After all, Yaakov Avinu was very sensitive to the subject – he fought his own brother over it in an epic struggle that lasted more than twenty years!In his final message to Reuven, Yaakov tells him exactly that, why he didn’t get the birthright. Read More »
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PDA’s for G-d
בס”דWe say in “Al HaNissim” that the Jews who triumphed over the Greeks lit candles in the holy courtyards (“…והדליקו נרות בחצרות קדשך…”) referring to the miracle of the menorah. Read More »
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In The Eyes Of Man and G-d
בס”דAfter rising to the prestigious post of seneschal in Potifar’s house, Yosef is propositioned by Potifar’s wife. While it is understandable, and supremely commendable, that he refuses her advances – Yosef’s reason for doing so bears some analysis. [בראשית לט: ט]“… Read More »
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In G-d We Trust
בס”דYaakov Avinu prepares for his meeting with his murderous brother, Esav, by taking a three pronged approach. He sends a gift of appeasement, he splits his camp into a more defensible formation and he davens to Hashem for help (see Rashi Bereshis 32: 9). Read More »
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Say It With Love (To That Lazy Bum!)
בס”דWhen Yaakov arrives at the well in Charan, he asks the locals if they know Lavan. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he tells the shepherds that their daily work is not yet completed – why are they just lounging around the well instead of Read More »
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The Hunt
בס”דWhy does Yitzchak ask Esav to hunt him up a meal ? Since when is a tzaddik interested in game or does he even notice what it is that sustains him ?The Shem MiShmuel observes that Yitzchak was well aware of his son’s shortcomings. He wanted to right those wrongs and therefore make Esav worthy of divine blessing. Read More »
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And A Nose Ring, Too
בס”דWhen Eliezer decides that Rivka meets his criteria for Yitzchak he bestows upon her two lavish gifts: a nose ring and a pair of bracelets. Chazal point out that these symbolize the half shekel coin that the Jews would give in a census and the ten commandments, respectively. Read More »
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Why Are We Good ?
בס”דHashem tells Avraham Avinu of the impending destruction of Sodom and Amorrah. What’s Avraham’s reaction ? He tries to avert this “tragedy” by negotiating with G-d.Two points to consider: 1. Why would the presence of any amount of righteous people be reason to spare the wicked multitudes from their just desserts ?2. Read More »
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(Dis)Connecting
בס”דWhen Avraham Avinu defeats the four kings he makes off with a fair bit of wealth in spoils. Doing the “right thing” Avraham returns the wealth to the king of S’dom. Read More »
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Are Neshamos Waterproof?
בס”דWhen humanity thoroughly contradicts the very purpose it was created for and becomes hopelessly morally corrupt, Hashem decrees that it must go. The Torah goes to great lengths to describe the punishment of the flood and the specifics of G-d’s divine judgment. For a full year the world is uninhabitable, covered in a watery blanket. Read More »
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To Live Or Not To Live
בס”ד”ויאמר ד’ א-לוקים הן האדם היה כאחד ממנו לדעת טוב ורע ועתה פן ישלח ידו ולקח גם מעץ החיים ואכל וחי לעלם: וישלחהו ד’ א-לוקים מגן עדן לעבד את האדמה אשר לקח משם: “[בראשית ג: כב-כג]“And Hashem said, since man has become uniquely paralleled to Me in his Read More »
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A Quiet Boisterousness
BS”DEver wonder why we celebrate simchas torah after sukkos ?In chu”l there are two days of yom tov – so it is common to separate, in our minds at least, the core meaning of shmini atzeres and simchas torah. This is of course, totally wrong. Read More »
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Straight As An S Curve
בס”דThere are an incredible number of hiddurim to look for when selecting the arbaa minim. Above and beyond the basic requirements – we search high and low to find the nicest and most pleasing set. The tallest, greenest, lulav, or the haddasim with the tightest weave of perfectly triangulated leaves. Read More »
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Everything To Gain
BS”DIn his epic work, the Mishna Torah, the Rambam covers just about every topic. The section titled Hilchos Teshuva has ten chapters and it is therefore a custom for some to review them during the aseres yemei teshuva.In chapter four of these halachos, the Rambam lists twenty four different impediments to teshuva. Read More »
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