Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
“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, At the age of ninety-nine, Avraham does a heroic feat – He circumcises himself. This resulted into a Divine Revelation where Hashem appears to him. As the pasuk (18:1) says, Vayeira eilav Hashem, Hashem appeared to him. Now, there is a big question here: I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer shlita that Rav Mottel…
Read More “Parshas Vayeira: The Power of Going Above and Beyond Your Nature ” »
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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” »
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…
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” »
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” »
