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 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 […]
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’. […]
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 […]
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: […]
Parshas Toldos: Cravings or Ravings?
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">Yaakov encounters Esav in a moment of vulnerability. Esav returns home from a ‘day at the races’ exhausted. He begs his brother Yaakov to partake from the red porridge he is in the midst of preparing, as he is famished. Yaakov […]
Parshas Chayei Sarah – Senior Citizens
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;"><em>Avraham was old, well on in years, and G-d had blessed Avraham with everything.</em> (בר×שית כד ×)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">On the surface, this touching portrayal of Avraham would seem […]
