A Seat for G-d, A Stage for Mankind – Parashat Vayeira

A Seat for G-d, A Stage for Mankind – Parashat Vayeira

Avraham’s prayers were granted. The location of the Akeida, the Binding of Yitzchak, was chosen by G-d as the place of the mizbei’ach, the altar in the Beis Hamikdash. The Beis Hamikdash would be designated as both the epicenter of Divine worship, “a House for G-d, prepared for sacrifices to be offered within,” as well as, “where we celebrate three […]

October 30, 2015 at 3:35 AM 0 comments

Your Brother’s Comfort is Your Own

Your Brother’s Comfort is Your Own

“…On the third of Mar-Cheshvan, we begin the prayers requesting rain. r’ Gamliel says: on the seventh of the month—fifteen days after the festival of Sukkos—in order that the last jew might have reached the river euphrates…” –  (Mishna, Taanis 1:3) בשלושה במרחשוון שואלים את הגשמים. רבן גמליאל אומר, בשבעה בו; חמישה עשר יום אחר החג, כדי שיגיע האחרון שבישראל […]

October 22, 2015 at 9:26 AM 0 comments

Born to Work

Born to Work

“…And G-d took the man and he placed him in the garden of eden to work it and to guard it…” – beraishis 2:15 וַיִּקַּח ה’ אֱלֹקִים אֶת הָאָדָם וַיַּנִּחֵהוּ בְגַן עֵדֶן לְעָבְדָהּ וּלְשָׁמְרָהּ – בראשית ב, טו   “Man is born for toil,” says the verse in Iyov (5:7). Therefore, already from the very beginning of man’s existence, G-d placed […]

October 9, 2015 at 4:43 PM 0 comments

The First Question

The First Question

“…In the beginning, g-d created the heaven and the earth …” – beraishis 1:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ – בראשית א, א Rashi begins his commentary on the Torah with a question: “Said Rabbi Yitzchak, ‘The Torah should not have begun from anywhere other than, “This month shall be for you…” (Shemos 12:2), the first mitzvah given to the […]

October 8, 2015 at 5:32 PM 0 comments

Seeking Aleph

Seeking Aleph

“In the beginning, g-d created the heaven and the earth…” – beraishis 1:1 בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ – בראשית א, א The first letter in the Torah is a ב—the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Since everything in the Torah is precise, the Torah’s start with the second letter of the alphabet, not the first, indicates […]

October 7, 2015 at 5:01 PM 0 comments

The Greatest Praise of All

The Greatest Praise of All

“…And all the mighty hand, and all the great awe, which Moshe performed before the eyes of all Israel…” – Devarim 32:10 The final verses of the Torah describe the remarkable person of Moshe, his unparalleled level of prophecy and his unmatched accomplishments. Rashi adds that the words, “which Moshe performed before the eyes of all of Israel,” refer to […]

October 2, 2015 at 4:02 PM 0 comments