Parshas Shemos – Chayos HaKodesh — Holy Beasts
Initially, Pharaoh attempted to conceal his intention to diminish the burgeoning male population of the Jewish nation by instructing the Hebrew midwives to clandestinely kill the male infants on the birthstool. They heroically defied his orders and caused the children to survive instead. Indignantly, he summons the midwives demanding an explanation. They respond by informing […]
Parshas Vayechi – Never Give Up!
Just as Yaakov proceeds to bless Efrayim and Menashe, he pauses to share an observation with Yosef. He remarks how ironic it is that after having given up on ever seeing his beloved son again, here and now, Yaakov is beholding not only the presence of Yosef, but grandchildren as well. Certainly, this is worthy […]
Parshas Vayechi – Never Give Up!
Just as Yaakov proceeds to bless Efrayim and Menashe, he pauses to share an observation with Yosef. He remarks how ironic it is that after having given up on ever seeing his beloved son again, here and now, Yaakov is beholding not only the presence of Yosef, but grandchildren as well. Certainly, this is worthy […]
Parshas Vayechi – Never Give Up!
Just as Yaakov proceeds to bless Efrayim and Menashe, he pauses to share an observation with Yosef. He remarks how ironic it is that after having given up on ever seeing his beloved son again, here and now, Yaakov is beholding not only the presence of Yosef, but grandchildren as well. Certainly, this is worthy […]
Ani Yehudi!
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Whether it be Jew, Jude, Zhid, Juif, Yahud or Yid, all these terms of ‘endearment’ stem and evolved from that proud appellation, Yehudi. The blessing of Yaakov to Yehuda begins, יהודה אתה — Yehuda – you, יודוך אחיך — your brothers shall acknowledge, ידך — your hand will be at your enemies’ […]
Parshas Vayigash – Bound Forever
Yehuda pleads with Yosef to permit Binyamin to return to his father despite the serious accusation against him that he was seemingly guilty of grand theft and deserving to punished and imprisoned. His justification for leniency is based on the inextricable relationship between father and son whose ‘soul is קשורה ̶ bound to his soul’. […]
For Love Is as Fierce as Death
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust, and not turned to the arrogant and to strayers after falsehood. (תהלים מ ה) The Midrash states that the first half of this verse refers to none other than Yosef, who placed absolute faith in G-d. Yet, the Midrash also says that […]
Parshas Vayishlach – The Name of the Game
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">Yaakov succeeds mightily in defeating the guardian angel of Esav. In what appears as a concession speech to Yaakov, the angel admiringly asks Yaakov, מה שמך — <em>“What is your name?”</em>, to which Yaakov readily responds, <em>“Yaakov”</em>. The angel goes on […]
Angels in Our Midst
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Within the Torah’s depiction of the encounter between Yaakov and Esav lay many lessons for our survival in dealing with this physical enemy called Edom, and the more arduous battle against its spiritual representation, our ultimate adversary — the Yetzer Hara, the evil inclination. Yaakov’s initial reaction is to send a message […]
Parshas Vayeitzei – Go With the Flow
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">As the shepherds gather at the well, waiting for their compatriots to arrive so that they may pool their strength in rolling off the heavy rock that covers the well, Yaakov arrives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: […]