INGREDIENTS: 4 pears, peeled and diced 6 apples, peeled and diced 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1 teaspoon grated orange zest 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour 1...
The Torah in Parashat Vayigash tells of Yaakob Abinu moving with his entire family – all his children and grandchildren – from the Land of Israel to Egypt. We read...
I. Extent of the Prohibition The Gemara (Gittin 7a) asks from where we learn that music is forbidden. The Gemara answers with a few possible verses, including “Do not rejoice, Israel,...
The Great Chastisement Is Having Been Wrong There is a Medrash in this week’s parsha on the pasuk [verse] regarding Yosef breaking down and revealing his true identity to his brothers....
Many people feel that a fast day is a day to sleep and relax. However, a fast day is really a time for retrospecting and doing teshuva. Many different halachos...
We read in Parashat Vayigash about the very powerful moment when Yosef, who was the second-in-command in Egypt¨†finally†revealed†to†his brothers who he was, saying the simple but dramatic words, אני†יוסף – “I...
As Chanukah is already in our rearview mirrors and we are facing the cold snowy winter, let me share with you a thought to take away from Chanukah. The late...
Even before the Covid pandemic, an “epidemic of loneliness” was compromising our physical and mental health and even our life expectancy. Despite people being more connected than ever now—through smartphones,...
The Torah (45:23) states, ולאביו†≠†שלח†כזאתÆÆƆעשר†חמרים†≠†נשאים מטוב†מצרים†, “To his father, [Yosef] sent ten donkeys, carrying the goods of Mitzrayim…” Why did Yosef send specifically†donkeys¨†and†why†precisely†Tenø The†Maharal†©Gevuras†Hashem†10®†explains†that†when†an†owner†loads†his†donkeys†with†merchandise¨†the†donkeys†carry†the†load†but†don’t†know†what†they†are†carrying†and†why†they†are†carrying†itƆYosef†sent†ten†donkeys†to†hint†to†his†father†that†he†shouldn’t†be†angry†at†his†ten†children†for†selling†Yosef†because†they†didn’t†know†what†they†were†doingÆ The†Marahal†writes¨†“Yosef†was†hinting†to†his†father†that†he†shouldn’t†punish†his†children†for†selling†him¨†because†it†was†decreed†from†heavenÆ When†the†shevatim†sold†him¨†they†were†like†a†loaded†donkey†that†doesn’t†know†why†it†carries†its†loadsƆLikewise¨†when†the†shevatim†sold†Yosef¨†they†didn’t†know†what†they†were†doingƆHakadosh†Baruch†Hu†decreed†that†they†should†go†down†to†MitzrayimƆThey†intended†to†sell†Yosef†because†of†their†hatred†towards†himƆHowever¨†the†true†purpose†was†to†bring†Yaakov†and†his†children†to†Mitzrayim…” Yosef†told†his†brothers†©†ועתם†לא אתם†שלחתם†≠†אתי†הנה†45:8 כי†האלקים†) ¨†“and†now¨†it†wasn’t†you†who†sent†me†hereƆIt†was†Hashem…”†©The†Shem†MiShmuel†said†that†a†Yid†should†repeat†those†words†every†dayÆ® Yosef†acknowledged†that†his†brothers†weren’t†guilty†of†selling†him†to†Mitzrayim†because†even†that†was†from†HashemƆIn†this†week’s†parashah, it says, אל†תרגזו†בדרך†Æ†The brothers†were†returning†home†to†tell†Yaakov†Avinu†the†good†news†that†Yosef†was†still†aliveƆThey†wanted†to†rush†home†to†share†this†wonderful†newsƆHowever¨†Yosef†warned†them¨†אל†תרגזו†בדרך†¨†don’t†be†too†hasty because†you†anyway†won’t†be†able†to†change†Hashem’s†planƆThe†moment†destined†for†Yaakov†to†know¨†he†will†know¨†and†not†a†moment†soonerƆYosef†told†them†to†go†quickly¨†מהרו†ועלו†אל ( אבי†45:9 ®†but†don’t†rush†too†much because†you†will†anyway†not†be†able†to change the time...
In this week’s parshah, Yosef is reunited with his brothers after a twenty-two year absence. “Vayitein ess kolo b’vchee, And he (Yosef) wept aloud. (Bereishis 45:2) It is with many...