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 Prayer - A Daily Conversation With G-d .: Viewed: 1911 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: "And Avraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before G-d".
The connection here is in the word "AMAD" – "Stood" and its association with the Amida Prayer....
Published: October 18, 2018 |
The Message of Moshe’s Rod .: Viewed: 1909 times :.
G-d commands Moshe, “Take this rod in your hand, that you may perform the miraculous signs against Egypt with it” (Shmot 4:17).
Moshe carried the Rod of G-d in his hand. It was the instrument that initiated the various plagues which afflicted Egypt. One might think that this rod was only able to bring punishment and to exact retribution.
However, we see in the Torah that when...
Published: December 31, 2017 |
Bilam’s Blessing - CARPE DIEM .: Viewed: 1909 times :.
Some of the most beautiful blessings that we receive in the Torah, are stated by the infamous and evil Bilam. For instance, “Behold, the Jewish People will arise like a mighty lion…” (Bamidbar 23:24)
Rashi comments on this verse that Israel strengthens themselves like a ferocious lion to seize the Mitzvot. Rashi explains that when we awake from our sleep in the early...
Published: July 5, 2019 |
Shabbat – The Soul Of The World! .: Viewed: 1907 times :.
In the division of the Torah into chapters and verses, the account of Shabbat in the Creation story comes at the beginning of Chapter 2. The Abarbanel informs us, that this division of the Bible into different chapters, is NOT of Jewish origin. These chapter divisions were invented by the Medieval Christian Bible printers. We use them for convenience only.
By beginning a new chapter with...
Published: September 27, 2017 |
Doing a Mitzvah at the Zoo .: Viewed: 1905 times :.
When I study Parshat Noach, I try to imagine all of the exotic creatures that G-d created. Therefore, some of my students and I visited the wonderful and exotic Ramat Gan Safari Zoo. Can one do a Mitzvah at the zoo? A visit to the zoo is a chance to experience the wonders of G-d's creation and acknowledge that opportunity with the appropriate blessing.
The Mishnah in Avot 2 states, "Let all...
Published: October 4, 2018 |
Shabbat – G-d’s Day to Re-JEWvinate .: Viewed: 1900 times :.
Parshat Mishpatim repeats the Mitzvah of Shabbat which was already stated in the Ten Commandments. “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day, you shall rest…..” (Shmot 23:12).
In the division of the Torah into chapters and verses, the account of Shabbat in the Creation story, in Bereshit, comes at the beginning of Chapter 2. The Abarbanel informs us, that...
Published: February 7, 2018 |
Where Have You Gone Aaron haKohen? .: Viewed: 1897 times :.
To paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel’s great song, “Where have you gone Aaron haKohen, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you!”
Why is Aaron haKohen's Yahrzeit the only one mentioned in the Torah? None of the Avot or the Imahot were accorded such an honor and not even Moshe Rabbenu. Only the date of the death of Aaron is mentioned. Why?
Aaron's Yahrtzeit is the first day...
Published: July 13, 2018 |
How lashon hara leads to metzora .: Viewed: 1896 times :.
The Torah warns that one who speaks Lashon Hara will be afflicted with Tzoraat. In fact, the word METZORA is an acronym for Motzi Shem Ra, which means slanderous and evil speech. What is the Middah K'neged Middah here? We know that G-d always punishes measure for measure.
The answer here is, a person who has Tzoraat may be 99% healthy. There may be only one small blotch of Tzoraat on his...
Published: March 24, 2018 |
Moshe-Prince of Egypt .: Viewed: 1889 times :.
Although born to a noble Levite family, the son of Amram and Yocheved, Moshe had an upbringing in his formative years in the palace of Pharaoh. Moshe grew up as a Prince in the mightiest world power of his day. Despite the fact that all the Jewish boys that were born during the same period as Moshe were ordered killed by being cast into the Nile, G-D manipulated events so that Moshe would not...
Published: February 8, 2017 |
Mt. Moriah vs. Mt. Sinai .: Viewed: 1886 times :.
After the Akeida on Mt. Moriah, Avraham named that site “Hashem Yireh” which means G-d sees all. Then he continues, “On this mountain G-d will be seen” (Bereshit 22:14). According to the Rambam Hilchot Beth Habechirah 7, even today we are prohibited from walking on Mt. Moriah, where the Temple stood. The reason is that this place still retains its Kedusha even in the...
Published: October 24, 2017 |
Noach vs. Avraham – Why Avraham Wins .: Viewed: 1885 times :.
G-d tells Avraham, "Walk before Me and be complete." (Bereshit 17:1) Rashi says that Avraham's completeness, his capacity to be Tamim, was obtained by his observance of the Mitzvah of Brit Milah. As long as he had the orlah (foreskin) he had a physical imperfection. With its removal, Avraham now became complete. The question is why Avraham needed the Mitzvah of Milah to become a Tamim...
Published: October 9, 2013 |
Pharaoh - The Original Anti-Semite! .: Viewed: 1885 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 |
G-d’s Reply to Moshe’s Cry .: Viewed: 1881 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 |
Can You Take It With You? .: Viewed: 1879 times :.
Is there a way to take it with you? Jack Benny famously said, “If I can’t take it with me, I’m not going.” But as we all know, he went anyway.
The Torah states in Parshat Terumah, “Speak to the children of Israel and have them TAKE to Me a contribution.” (Shemot 25:2)
Why does the verse state “TAKE to Me” rather than “Give to...
Published: January 30, 2019 |
It’s NOW or Never! .: Viewed: 1877 times :.
“And NOW Israel, what does Hashem your G-d, ask of you? Only that you fear Hashem your G-d.” (Devarim 10:12)
The Midrash Bereshit Rabba 21 comments that the word NOW is a reference to Teshuvah. In what aspect does the word NOW denote the concept of Teshuvah? My Rebbe, Rav Pam ZT”L explains that contemplating how quickly time and life pass us by is the most powerful motive...
Published: August 7, 2018 |