10 Dec PARASHAT VAYISHLAH: YAAKOB AND THE CAMP OF ANGELS
Yaakob Abinu was making his way back to Eretz Yisrael with his family when he learned that his brother, Esav, was coming to meet him with an army of four hundred men. He immediately made a...
03 Dec PARASHAT VAYESEH: LOVING THROUGH GIVING
We read in Parashat Vayeseh that when Yaakob arrived in Haran, at the home of his uncle, Laban, he reached an agreement with Laban. According to the agreement, Yaakob would work for seven years as a shepherd,...
25 Nov PARASHAT TOLDOT: HARD WORK AND EFFORT
The Torah in Parashat Toldot tells the story of the blessings which Yishak Abinu wished to bestow upon his older son, Esav, but which were taken by the younger son, Yaakob. Yishak informed Esav of his desire to...
19 Nov PARASHAT CHAYEH SARA: SHIDDUCHIM AND G-D’S ANGEL
Parashat Hayeh-Sara tells the famous story of Eliezer, Abraham Abinu’s servant, whom Abraham sent to Aram Naharayim to find a girl for Yitzhak. Eliezer’s mission was successful, as he brought Ribka, a righteous granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, to...
12 Nov PARASHAT VAYERA: NOT LETTING IT GET TO OUR HEADS
The Torah in Parashat Vayera tells the famous story of “Akedat Yishak,” when G-d tested Abraham by commanding him to slaughter his only son, which was born when he was 100 years old, as a sacrifice. Abraham took...
05 Nov PARASHAT LECH LECHA: RECEIVING THE POWER TO BLESS
When G-d first spoke to Avraham and commanded him to leave his homeland and move to what would become known as the Land of Israel, He made several promises, including, “Va’abarechecha Mebarecheka, U’mekelelcha A’or” – “I shall bless those who...
29 Oct PARASHAT NOAH: NOAH’S ATONEMENT
Parashat Noah tells the well-known story of the flood which G-d brought upon the world to destroy all of mankind, sparing only Noah and his family. The previous Parasha, Parashat Bereshit, concludes by telling us that as the...
14 Oct SIMHAT TORAH: APPRECIATING THE ROADMAP TO THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT
Simhat Torah is one of the happiest and joyous holidays of the year. However, Simhat Torah appears to be, chronologically, “out of order.” Since we received the Torah after Pesach, on Shavuot, we would expect the celebration of...
08 Oct YOM KIPPUR: THE RIPPLE EFFECT
The day which we normally refer to as “Yom Kippur” is actually called in the Torah by a slightly different name – “Yom Kippurim.” The name “Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement,” whereas “Yom Kippurim” is a...
30 Sep SHABBAT SHUVA TESHUBA & TORAH LEARNING
The famous Haftara read on Shabbat Shuba – the Shabbat in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – comes from the Book of Hoshea, and begins with the prophet calling to the people, “Return, O Israel, unto...