The Torah gives us no introduction about Avram’s accomplishments in the first seventy-five years of his life, before telling us that G-d commanded him to leave his homeland (and promised him great rewards in return). Even a short description saying that Avram was a righteous person who found favor in G-d’s eyes, like the introduction given for Noach, is not […]

“….Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations….”  (Bereishit 6:9) ״….נח איש צדיק תמים היה בדורותיו…״ – בראשית ו,ט According to the second opinion brought by Rashi, why does the Torah make a point of telling us that Noach was not objectively righteous (and was only regarded as such in comparison to the people of his time)? The Torah goes […]

“…Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generations…” – beraishis 6:9 נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו – בראשית ו, ט Parshas Noach opens with a short description of Noach: “He was a righteous man, perfect in his generations.” Why does the Torah qualify Noach’s righteousness as, “in his generations”? Rashi offers two explanations: “Some of our Sages interpret […]

The biggest secret in history is when Moshiach is coming. In this week’s parasha Yackov is hinting to the date… – find out in this class about the Parasha Duration of class: 1:05:51              

Often people hurt us in many different ways. The Torah is requiring me to forgive them. why? Why did Yosef Hatzadik was so quick to forgive his brothers? – find out in this class about the Parasha Duration of class: 1:00:54              

Why was Yosef Hatzadik so harsh with his brothers when he finally met them after so many years in stead of right away revealing to them he’s their brother, but instead he puts on a show and treats them like criminals? – find out in this class about the Parasha Duration of class: 55:50              

….And it was told to Tamar, saying, “Behold, your father in law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep…” – Bereishit 38:13 ״…ויוגד לתמר לאמר הנה חמיך עלה תמנתה לגז צאנו….״ – בראשית לח, יג Based on the Talmud (Sotah 10a), Rashi tells us that Timnah was situated on the slope of a mountain. We thus find that […]

Why did Yosef Hatzadik was punished for asking the minister of beverages to tell pharaoh to get him out of jail?and what does that teaches me? – find out in this class about the Parasha Duration of class: 52:12              

How did the wicked Eisav forgive Yackov so fast after wanting to kill him for so many years? How can I make someone forgive me even though i did not do anything wrong? – find out in this class about the Parasha Duration of class: 54:55              

Why did Yackov choose to marry Rachel and not Leah? Why did Leah agree to be switched with Rachel in order to marry Yackov? and much more in this class              

Why did Yitzchak want to bless the wicked Eisav and not Yackov? and why did Yitzchak want to bless only one child and not both boys? – find out in this class about the Parasha              

“…The serpent was cunning…” – Bereishit 3:1 והנחש היה ערום מכל חית השדה – בראשית ג, א According to the Midrash, G-d’s decree not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge applied only on the 6th day of Creation, the day that Adam and Chava were created. With the onset of Shabbos that evening, the prohibition would have been removed (see Bereishis […]

“…And G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it he abstained from all his work that g-d created to do…” – Bereishit 2:3 וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹקִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים לַעֲשׂוֹת – בראשית ב, ג On the seventh day from the start of Creation, G-d rested from His creation […]

“…And Yosef sustained his father and his brothers and his father’s entire household [with] bread according to the young children. – Bereishis 47:12 וַיְכַלְכֵּל יוֹסֵף אֶת אָבִיו וְאֶת אֶחָיו וְאֵת כָּל בֵּית אָבִיו לֶחֶם לְפִי הַטָּף – בראשית מז, יב The Book of Tehillim (80:2) calls G-d “the shepherd of Israel… He who leads Yosef like flocks of sheep.” The Midrash interprets […]

“…And they said to one another, “indeed, we are guilty for our brother, that we witnessed the distress of his soul when he begged us, and we did not listen. that is why this trouble has come upon us.” and Reuven answered them, saying, “didn’t i tell you, saying, ‘do not sin against the lad,’ but you did not listen?” […]

The image of Yaakov’s face appeared to Yosef just moments before he succumbed to his master’s wife’s advances, says the Talmud, and ultimately saved him from sinning. The Talmud implies that this was more than just a reminder to Yosef of the ethical standards with which he was raised; rather, it was the appearance of Yaakov’s face that gave Yosef the courage […]

Eisav’s move was motivated by very practical considerations. He knew that the Land of Canaan had been promised to the descendants of Avraham, but it came with a price tag. Whoever would inherit the Promised Land would first pay off the “family debt”: G-d’s decree that Avraham’s descendants would be “strangers in a land that is not theirs” (Beraishis 15:13). In […]

By marrying a woman from the family of Avraham, Eisav sought to convince his parents that he was pursuing a more righteous life. Rashi (28:9) sums up Eisav’s hypocrisy, saying, “he added wickedness upon his wickedness, for he did not divorce his other wives.” Yet, in reference to this marriage of convenience, or even worse, this marriage of deceit, the […]

TORAH TALK: Vayeitzei with Rabbi Alon Anava Guest Speaker Rabbi Alon Anava Parsha Vayeitzei Gen 28:10 – 32:3 855-95-BIBLE Watch the class on www.tenaktalk.com Get more updates on future live classes on the Facebook page            

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 […]