Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha (Breishes 15:5), Hashem tells Avraham to look at the stars. Hashem informs Avraham, “So too will be your offspring.” What does this promise mean that the Jewish people will be like stars? Rav Zelig Pliskin, shlita, explains: The Baal Shem Tov says that the Jewish descendants of Avraham are like stars….
The Midrash Tanchuma says that the lion in Noach’s ark injured Noach. Why would the lion be so brazen and impetuous? Didn’t the lion appreciate Noach’s efforts? Couldn’t the lion wait patiently for his food? Let me share with you a powerful message that I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz zt”l…
In this week’s Torah Portion (Berieshes 4:10) we are told of two brothers Kayin and Hevel – the first brothers of human history. Kayin and Hevel couldn’t get along, and one brother, Kayin kills his brother Hevel. The verse says the bloods of your brother are crying from the ground. The commentaries ask why the…
Read More “Parshas Berishes: How Your Words Affect Generations” »
“And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt…” (47:28) This week’s Parsha says that Yaakov lived 147 years. Yaakov should have really lived much longer but Hashem punished because of a lapse in Emunah. During their very first encounter. Pharaoh asked Yaakov a very personal question. As the pasuk says (Bereishis 47:8), “Vayomer Pharaoh el…
“Thus, Israel settled in the land of Egypt in the region of Goshen…” (47:27) In Darash Moshe, Rav Moshe Feinstein asks: Why does the Torah state here that Yisroel settled in Egypt when we know from the preceding verses that Goshen was a region in Egypt? He answers that perhaps the Torah is teaching us…
“And Yosef said to his brothers, I am Joseph…” (45:3) The two most dramatic words ever recited were, “Ani Yosef – I am Yosef!” Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita explains: These two words shocked and shook Yosef’s brothers to the core of their beings. Their entire worldview was suddenly turned inside out. The brothers’ accusation, fear, vendetta, and…
Shabbos Chanukah typically falls out on Parshas Miketz. In Miketz we read about Pharaoh’s dream of the weakly, thin cows that devour the strong, healthy cows. Yet, astoundingly, the weak cows didn’t look different. They didn’t gain any physical weight. This unique phenomenon is symbolic of Chanukah. Rav Yitzchok Fingerer explains that the “weak” Jews…
“And it was the end of two years …” (41:1) The opening verse in this week’s Parsha Vayehi Mikeitz Shenasayim Yamim literally means, “And it was the end of two years.” However, according to the R’ Shraga Yair of Bialovzeg, it can also mean: Mikeitz, at the end of days, Shenasayim, years, Yomim, will turn…
“And so it was – just as she coaxed Yosef day after day…” (39:10) The Torah says that Yosef Hatzadik was tested Yom Yom, each and every day, by Potiphar’s wife. It was a daily challenge that Yosef confronted. Yosef was able to conquer his Yetzer Hara (Evil inclination). Yosef was awarded with a unique…
“And Yaakov was left alone…” (32:25) In this week’s Parsha we are told that Jews are forbidden to eat the Gid HaNashe (Sciatic Nerve) The Chizkuni writes that this is so because Yaakov’s children left him alone. They should have accompanied and sought to protect their father. They are blamed for the injury that Yaakov incurred. Rav Yitzchok…
