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 Twin Torahs .: Viewed: 1392 times :.
“In the third month after the Exodus from Egypt, the Children of Israel came to the Wilderness of Sinai.” (Shemot 19:1) Rashi explains that Israel arrived at the Wilderness of Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Sivan, 6 days before we received the Torah there. According to the Talmud in Shabbat, the month of Sivan is represented by תאומים which means TWINS. Why did G‑d choose to give us the...
Published: February 3, 2020 |
Pharaoh - The Classic Villain .: Viewed: 1403 times :.
Pharaoh seems to be one of the main characters in the Torah. There is a Pharaoh in Avraham’s time, then there’s the Pharaoh in Yosef’s time and of course, the Pharaoh in Moshe’s time. Why does the Torah give so much prominent attention to the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt? We know the Torah is G‑d’s GPS (G‑d’s Personal System) for the here and now.
Moshe says...
Published: January 21, 2020 |
G-d’s Reply to Moshe’s Cry .: Viewed: 1347 times :.
Moshe cries out to G‑d, “…why have You done evil to this People…?” (Shemot 5:22) Hashem replies to him “and I appeared to Avraham, Yitzhak, and to Yaakov as KEIL SHADAI…” (Shemot 6:3) What did G‑d mean by this statement?
Moshe could not comprehend why the cruel Egyptian slavery was intensifying after G‑d had promised him that redemption was near...
Published: January 13, 2020 |
Pharaoh - The Original Anti-Semite! .: Viewed: 1308 times :.
There has been a rash of anti-Semitic attacks throughout Europe and the U.S.A. accompanied by vicious anti-Semitic tweets. But where did it all begin? The Torah states in Shemot 1:6-8 “Yosef died and all his brothers and that entire generation...And a new King arose over Egypt, who did not know of Yosef.”
My Rebbe, Rav Pam, often discussed the question of how Pharaoh and the...
Published: January 13, 2020 |
Yaakov’s 70 Nation Builders .: Viewed: 1367 times :.
“The total number of souls of Yaakov’s household who came to Egypt was 70 persons.” (Bereshis 46:27) The Prophet Isaiah states that the mission of the Jewish People is to be a light to the 70 nations of the world. By descending into the Egyptian exile, the nucleus of the Jewish People (Yaakov and his family) began the process of elevating and transforming the 70 nations of...
Published: December 26, 2019 |
Yosef's Brothers See the Light .: Viewed: 1345 times :.
“Yosef’s brothers then said one to another, but we are guilty concerning our brother as we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us and we paid no attention, that is why this anguish has come upon us.” (Bereshis 42:21)
This verse describes how Yosef’s brothers became introspective on experiencing the strange and cruel behavior of the Egyptian Viceroy...
Published: December 16, 2019 |
Chanuka - Teach Your Children Well .: Viewed: 1410 times :.
Crosby Stills and Nash had a number one hit song called “Teach Your Children Well.” Were they singing about the Festival of Chanuka? Because the Talmud Shabbat 23 states, “One who is careful about Chanuka lights will have children who are Torah scholars.” Rashi explains this enigmatic passage referring to the verse in Mishlei 6 which states, “A candle is a Mitzva...
Published: December 9, 2019 |
Our Dreams - A Portal to Eternity! .: Viewed: 2326 times :.
Sefer Bereshis contains many dreamers and their dreams. First we have Yakov’s dream followed by Yosef’s dreams, Pharaoh’s dreams, and the Butler and the Baker’s dreams.
There was a popular song called “Life is but a Dream.” Why do we dream? What is the meaning of our dreams? The Mishnah in Avot states, “One moment of pleasure in the After-Life is...
Published: November 26, 2019 |
Rivka's AYIN TOVA .: Viewed: 1639 times :.
Both Yaakov Avinu and Moshe Rabeinu found their spouses at a BE’ER (a well). Eliezer, Avraham’s servant, also met Rivka, Yitzchak’s future wife, at a well. At that event, the Torah first calls the well a BE’ER (Bereshis 24:11). However, in Bereshis 24:42 the Torah calls the well where Eliezer met Rivka AYIN. Why the switch?
The Rambam in Moreh Nevuchim informs us...
Published: November 12, 2019 |
Prayer - The ORIGINAL Soul Food .: Viewed: 1742 times :.
The Talmud (Berachot 26b) says, "Tefilot Avot Tiknum" – "Prayer was established by the Avot". The Talmud then uses the following verse (Bereshit 19:27) to prove how Avraham established Prayer: "Vayaskem Avraham baboker el hamakom asher amad sham et pnei Hashem" – "And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before G‑d".
The connection here is in the...
Published: November 4, 2019 |
Sarah’s Home - The ORIGINAL Mikdash! .: Viewed: 1494 times :.
“They shall make for Me a MIKDASH and I will dwell in THEM.” (Shemot 25:8) The Ramban explains that Hashem is asking each of us to build for Him a replica of our Mother Sarah’s Home.
Sarah was the classic Jewish mother and one of the seven prophetesses named in Holy Scripture. Her home was no ordinary tent. It had extraordinary qualities: a cloud of holiness, doors which...
Published: October 29, 2019 |
Fixing Noach’s Drinking Problem .: Viewed: 1589 times :.
Why is wine so essential to Judaism? All of our sacred occasions are accompanied by the drinking of wine. During Kiddush, Havdala, Weddings, Sheva Brachot, Brit Mila and the 4 Cups on Pesach wine is required. Why??
To find the answer we must look into the Talmud. The Talmud discusses the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, wondering what type of fruit it was (Berachot 40a, Sanhedrin 70...
Published: October 10, 2019 |
The Suka – Hugged by the One Above .: Viewed: 1506 times :.
There is a strange and perplexing Midrash, "When Iyov (Job) complained about his unbearable suffering, G-d showed him a Suka of 3 walls." What could be the meaning of this perplexing Midrash?
A Sukkah by definition is a temporary residence. The Halachic rule is that it must have at least three walls or even two walls and a Tefach (a hands breath) that comprises a third wall. (Shulchan...
Published: October 7, 2019 |
Did G-d “NEED” Creation? .: Viewed: 1594 times :.
Throughout the act of Creation, after each major step such as the creation of light, water and vegetation, the Torah tells us that va-yar Elohim KI TOV, "and G-d saw that it was good." Taken literally, these passages strike us as grossly anthropomorphic, as if the Creator of the universe is a Cosmic Artist who, after every significant addition to His composition, steps back to admire His...
Published: October 3, 2019 |
Rosh Hashana’s Enigma - Fearful with Joy .: Viewed: 1530 times :.
In the Torah, Rosh Hashana is called YOM TERUA (a day of blowing the horn: Numbers 29:1). Although horns are generally sounded on joyous occasions, here the horn or, more specifically the shofar signifies a solemn holiday, when we are all put on trial. We all stand before the Supreme Judge - G-d! This heavenly trial continues for 10 days until Yom Kippur.
On Rosh Hashana, according to the...
Published: September 3, 2019 |