Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, Yosef ascends to great power. He became the viceroy, the ruler of Mitzrayim. In this role, he encountered his brothers who came during the famine looking for food. As Yosef’s brothers stood facing him, they had no idea it was him. They had no idea that the man they were in…
According to Chazal, the arba minim, the four species, represent different types of people – different kinds of Jews. The Esrog represents the tzaddik, the wholly righteous person. The Lulav and Hadassim represent the Jew who is a work in progress, and the Arava personifies the Jew who is totally derelict – one hasn’t learned…
As Yom Kippur is approaching I would like to share with you a beautiful and powerful story for this special day. On Yom Kippur, over 60 years ago, in Eretz Yisroel, a man was walking to shul when he saw something that perturbed him. He saw something that really bothered him. Not far away, a block away from the shul,…
The Rambam (based on the Gemara in Berachos 34b) writes that in the place where a Baal teshuvah stands, the greatest tzaddikim can’t stand. Why? Because balei teshuvah suppress their desires. They conquer their impulses. That’s how great and special they are. I want to share with you something incredible: In Hashevinu – the prayer…
As Shavous is approaching, I would like to share with you a special story about Torah learning that Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l (Rav Chaim on Chumash) would say over: The Chasam Sofer headed a prestigious yeshivah in the city of Pressburg. One day, a young man knocked at his door and said that he wanted to…
Simchas Yom Tov – Genuine Happiness The Rambam in Hilchos Yom Tov states that a person and his family must be happy on Yom Tov, as it says, V’smachta b’chagecha – And you shall rejoice in your Festival… There is a special mandate to be happy on Yom Tov and do things that make us…
Take a look at a hundred-dollar bill. Who wouldn’t want a fresh, crisp one-hundred-dollar bill? I am pretty sure that if I offered you one hundred dollars you would gladly take it. How about if I crumple it? You will still take it. If I threw the crumpled bill on the floor, and stepped on…
Read More “It’s Never too Late – An Incredible Chanukah Story!” »
Why is such eminence ascribed to the Lulav? Why is the Lulav so paramount? After all, according to Chazal, the Esrog represents the Tzaddik, the wholly righteous person, who is resplendent in both good deeds and Torah learning. Yet, surprisingly, the Beracha that is recited focuses entirely on the Lulav, (as we say “Al Netilas…
The Gemara (Sukkah 26a) derives from the pasukin Parshas Emor (Vayikra 23:42), בַּסֻכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ – (For a seven-day period you shall live in booths) that a person should dwell in his sukkah for the seven days of Yom Tov just as one dwells in his house all year. However, the Satmar Rebbe writes that it…
A certain city in the king’s empire had failed to pay its taxes to the royal treasury. Angry at the long overdue liability, the king came with a mighty army to collect the debt. When the king was ten miles from the city, the mayor and the city administrators came out to meet him. Since…
Read More “Rosh Hashanah: Trumpets and the Shofar – The Kings Hunting Expedition” »
