Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha (Bereishes 37:35) Yaakov is grieving intensely over the purported loss of his dear son Yosef. He’s inconsolable. His children attempt to comfort him and to console him. The pasuk says that all of Yaakov’s children arose to comfort him. However, vayema’ein lehisnachem – Yaakov refused to be consoled. The Torah does not reveal to…
Rashi cites the sages who say that when Rivkah passed by the Beis Medrash (Torah study halls) of Shaim and Aiver, Yaakov tried to come out. When she passed by places of idol worship Eisav tried to get out. There is a big question here: We can understand why Eisav tried to go to places…
Read More “Parshas Toldos: From Public-School Boy to Rosh Yeshiva” »
“And the man was astonished…” (Bereishes 24:21) When Eliezer the servant of Avraham was seeking out a Shidduch for Yitzchok, he encountered Rivka at the well. When describing Eliezer’s reaction upon seeing Rivka the pasuk says that Eliezer was astonished. We can understand why Eliezer was elated at the prospect of fulfilling his mission but…
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Ha’azinu, the pasuk tells us that the words of the Torah are compared to rain. Why is this so? What is the connection between Torah and rain? I would like to share with you a beautiful answer that I saw in sefer Aleinu Leshabi’ach by Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein shlita: Rav…
Read More “Parshas Ha’azinu: The Man Who Was Saved from Death” »
This week’s Parsha contains the second Tochachah (Admonition) found in the Torah. In the Tochachah , Moshe tells us the dire consequences that Klal Yisrael will face if we stray from our allegiance to Hashem and His Torah. Nevertheless, before uttering the fifty-four pesukim (verses) of admonition, Moshe delivered fourteen pesukim of bracha, of blessing, describing the…
Read More “Parshas Ki Savo – Walking the Cliff while Blindfolded?!” »
This week’s Parsha introduces us to a unique Mitzvah, called Yibum. When a married man dies childless, his brother is commanded to marry his dead brother’s wife. This is considered to be a great kindness in order to perpetuate his brother’s family line. The child born will spiritually be considered the deceased man’s child. If…
In this week’s Parsha we learn that if one solitary soldier feels fear or anxiety, he must be sent home (Devarim 20:8). We are afraid that he will lower the morale of his fellow soldiers and that his misgiving and apprehension will spread to other troops. The entire battalion may be weakened by one person’s…
In this week’s Parsha, Moshe Rabbeinu warned Bnei Yisrael about the spiritual trap of idolatry (Devarim 13:5). He then spoke about the prohibitions concerning false prophets and the necessity to maintain loyalty to Hashem. When the Torah commands us to follow Hashem, the term אַחַרי Acharei is used. The word Acharei (after), implies distance. A…
In this week’s Parsha the Torah commands us not to follow other G-ds and that Hashem is One (Devarim 8:19). The Medrash says that the word וְהָיָה, vehaya refers to joy. What joy could there possibly be in forgetting Hashem? The Kotzker Rebbe says a phenomenal thought: This verse can be understood by dividing these words…
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” »
