Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
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…
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…
The Number Eight It is interesting that the root of the word shemen, oil, is the same as shemonah, eight. Is it a coincidence, then, that we celebrate eight days of Chanukah due to the oil that lasted eight days? Of course not! The number eight has great significance. It is considered I’ma’alah min hateva,…
What is Chanukah? The Rabbanim learned… (Shabbos 21b) Although there are many lessons learned from the miracles that occurred on Chanukah, the Sefer Torah Tavlin Al HaMoadim quotes the Nesivos Shalom, Rav Shalom Berezovsky zt”l, who writes that the essence of Chanukah is simchah (happiness). He notes that it is customary for Jews to wish…
“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…
“And he arrived at the place…” (28:11) In this week’s Parsha, we are told that our patriarch Yaakov was traveling. He laid down to go to sleep and he had a dream. When Yaakov awoke from his dream he was immediately spurred to action. He recognized the holiness of the place and the importance of…
And the children struggled within her…” (25:22) Rashi cites the sages who say that when Rivkah passed by the 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. The question arises: We can understand why Eisav tried to go to…
“Now Avraham was old, he came with his days”(24:1) “Now Avraham was old, he came with his days” (24:1) There is an idea here expressed by many commentaries that when the verse says that Avraham came with all his days, we learn that not one day in Avraham’s life was wasted. Each and every day he accomplished something. (Maayanah Shel…
