Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, Avraham is recovering a heroic feat. He did something exceedingly brave, courageous, and holy. He circumcised himself at the age of ninety-nine. Avraham went under the knife and received a bris milah. This resulted into a Divine Revelation where Hashem appeared to him. The pasuk says, Vayeira eilav Hashem – Hashem…
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In this week’s Parsha, Hashem compares the Jewish people to the stars in the heavens. The pasuk says, Vayeitzei Oso Hachutzah… – “Hashem brought Avraham outside and said, “Look towards the heaven and count the stars… That is how numerous your descendants will be.” The question is why? Why are Jews compared to stars? What…
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In this week’s Parsha, Noach built a Teiva (ark) to be saved from the Mabul. Noach took in all the different animals and took care of them. He was up day and night feeding them and tending to their needs. The Midrash Tanchuma says that the lion in Noach’s ark injured Noach. There is a…
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…
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…
In this week’s Parsha, Moshe addresses the Jewish people as a whole. From the great leaders to the simple woodcutters, and water carriers, all the different types of Jews were gathered together. The pasuk begins, Atem Nitzavim Hayom Kulchem… you are all standing here today. There is a question here: What does today represent? What day…
Read More “Parsha Inspiration – Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech: The Secret to Attaining Good Judgment” »
In this week’s Parsha, we are told about the immense blessing that the Jewish people will accrue upon following Hashem’s law. The Pasuk says, U’Vau Aecha kol ha’Berachos ha’Eleh v’Hisigucha, and all these blessings will come upon you and reach you. There is a question here: Seemingly the word V’Hisigucha – “and will reach you” is…
Read More “Inspiration on Parshas Ki Savo – Being Grateful and Judaism” »
In this week’s Parsha we learn about a very important mitzvah – the law of burial in the earth. The pasuk says that you should bury a person because an unburied corpse is a curse to Hashem. There is a question here. This pasuk that teaches us the very important precept of Judaism, the mitzvah of burial,…
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In this week’s Parsha, the Jewish people go out to battle. The Torah says that if one solitary soldier feels fear or anxiety, he must be sent home. Why? Because we are afraid that he will lower the morale of his fellow soldiers. We are afraid that his misgivings and apprehensions will spread to the…
Read More “Parsha Inspiration: Parshas Shoftim – The Power of Postivity” »
You Can Reach Your Potential – Just like Moshe! In this week’s Parsha, Moshe says, Re’eh anochi nosen lifneichem hayom bracha u’klala – see, I have placed before you today two potential paths to take in life. The Medrash says that re’eh anochi literally means see me. Moshe was adjuring the people to be like him. He was telling them Re’eh…
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