Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
Parshas Devarim is read on the Shabbos before Tishah B’Av, known as Shabbos Chazon, because its haftorah (Yeshayahu 1:1-1:27) begins with the words, “Chazon Yeshayahu — The vision of Yeshayahu.” On Shabbos Chazon, we contemplate the meaning of Tishah B’Av, the Ninth of Av. Rav Yechiel Spero shlita writes: Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev has…
Read More “Parshas Devarim – Tisha B’av: The King and the Suit” »
Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l would recount the following story: 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 join the yeshivah. “What topics are you prepared to be tested on?” The Chasam Sofer asked him. The young…
The highlight and pinnacle of Jewish history was Har Sinai, meeting Hashem at the mountain. We were exalted and lifted to zenith heights. I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita, that perhaps this would affect our egos. Hashem bids us to remember our beginning as slaves. Perhaps this is why the Torah reading on the…
“Open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Your Torah…” (Tehillim 119:18) The Pasuk in Tehillim (above) says: “Open my eyes, that I may perceive the wonders of Your Torah…” I heard an incredible insight from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita: The word of גל (“Gal”) – (open and reveal) are the same letters…
Have you ever wondered what the relationship between happiness and matzah is? Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita explains: As part of Hebrew grammar, certain letters are understood to be interchangeable. One pair is that of Shin (ש) and Tzaddik .(צ) In line with this, the word for being in a state of happiness – Samaich (happiness)…
The Poor Blacksmith I saw a story in the Torah Tavlin about a blacksmith who lived in the city of Slutzk, who was extremely destitute. Though he had worked hard, he always found it hard to provide amply for himself and his family. One year, a few days before Pesach, the blacksmith came to Rav…
It is interesting to note that the only place in Tanach that calls the Jews “Yehudim” is Megillas Esther. I saw in the sefer Torah Tavlin that the Dargah Yeseirah writes that this is because the word Yehudi means to acknowledge and thank. The great strength of the Jews that turned the decree around was…
Moshe Rabbeinu’s name is absent from this week’s Parsha. This is very unusual and rare, as Moshe Rabbeinu’s name appears in every Parsha since his birth. Why is his name missing from this week’s Parsha? One reason that the commentaries offer is because the week of Parshas Tetzaveh coincides with the Seventh of Adar, the…
Read More “Parshas Tetzaveh – Purim – There is no such thing as Coincidence” »
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…
As Chief Rabbi of the city of Tzvas and a proficient mohel (circumciser), Rav Shmuel Heller zt”l was constantly in demand to perform circumcision on the baby boys in his city. However, he always begged off attending the festive meal afterward, claiming that he had many important needs to attend to. In truth, R’ Shmuel…
