Parshas Vayigash: Why did Serach Live Such A Long Life?

Posted on: December 6th, 2013

Remember 613 Torah Avenue? Of course you do. Released in the 1970’s and through the early 1980’s, the 613 Torah Avenue Tapes on the weekly parsha were part and parcel of most frum children’s Torah education during those years, and continue to be used by many teachers and rebbeim.

A Rosh Chodesh Celebration

Posted on: December 6th, 2013

Just as the moon waxes and wanes and then totally disappears from view before returning to the night sky, so, too, the Jewish people.

Who Was Dinah’s Mother?

Posted on: December 5th, 2013

In this week’s parshah Yaakov Avinu takes his entire family down to Mitzrayim. The Torah lists the family members who made this journey. On the list is Shimon’s son, Shaul. The pasuk refers to him as Shaul ben haCanaanis – the son of the Canaanis.

Shabbos Mevorchim Teves

Posted on: November 29th, 2013

According to the Sefer Yetzirah, each month is associated with a letter of the aleph-beis. Teves was formed by means of the letter ayin, which has a numerical value of seventy – a number that figures prominently in Judaism.

Parshat Mikeitz

Posted on: November 29th, 2013

Having come to the conclusion that nobody was more qualified than Yosef to lead Egypt in anticipation of and during the approaching famine, Pharaoh appointed him prime minister. This appointment made Yosef the second most powerful man in Egypt.

‘Boneless Wonder’

Posted on: November 29th, 2013

Standing up for the truth is by no means an easy feat and Yosef paid for it dearly.

Beis HaMikdash – Spiritual Power Source

Posted on: November 27th, 2013

The Bach, commenting on Tur Shulchan Aruch, explains that the decrees of the Yivanim against the Jewish people occurred because the Jewish people became “lax in their service.”

Returning A Non-Jew’s Lost Item

Posted on: November 27th, 2013

In this week’s parshah, Yosef is the ruler of Mitzrayim and his brothers come to purchase food from him, not realizing with whom they were dealing.

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Change Your Erev Shabbos, With the Gift of Chatzos

Posted on: November 22nd, 2013

If your home fits the chaotic description but you’d love to change it to the calm one maybe you should think about joining the ever growing Chatzos Movement – a group of ladies whose goal is to have all the main preparations for Shabbos over by chatzos, the middle of the day on Friday.

Dream A Little Dream Of Me

Posted on: November 22nd, 2013

Of all the “what were they thinking” stories we have in Tanach, the story of Yosef definitely takes the cake. He knows his brothers hate him and should not be messed with. And yet he begs, “Please hear my dreams, in which you all bow down to me.”

Living Like A Rock

Posted on: November 21st, 2013

Rashi tells us that after the Torah described the life of Eisav in an abbreviated manner, it then told over the events of the life of Yaakov in full detail. The reason for this is that Yaakov and what occurred to him are important in the eyes of Hashem, whereas Eisav and his life aren’t. So too, Rashi explains, we find with the ten generations from Adam to Noach. Each individual gets a mere mention until we get to the life of Noach. Then the Torah elaborates in full detail.

Why Two Years?

Posted on: November 21st, 2013

Toward the end of the parshah, we read that Yosef was incarcerated. While there, the sar hamashkim and the sar ha’ofim were imprisoned as well. Both men had dreams one night, which disturbed them the next day. Rashi tells us that they each dreamed the interpretation of the other’s dream.

Shabbos – A Day With Hashem: Singing with the Angels

Posted on: November 15th, 2013

Why is it so important to sing specifically during the seudah? If we understand this minhag and how to fulfill it, we will discover an amazing new aspect of Shabbos.

The Greatest Fight Of All Time

Posted on: November 15th, 2013

I’m sure you’re familiar with the Rashi, but did you know there’s another explanation as to why the malachim ascended and then descended?

Accomplice To Evil

Posted on: November 14th, 2013

Shechem, the son of Chamor, set his sights on Dina. He carefully laid a trap to entice her out of her tent, and then kidnapped and defiled her. When Yaakov and his sons heard what had been done, “they were extremely distressed . . . [and said] ‘So shall not be done!’ ”

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What Was Yaakov Afraid Of?

Posted on: November 14th, 2013

At the beginning of this week’s parshah we learn that Eisav was coming with 400 men to attack Yaakov and his family. We are told of the many preparations that Yaakov took before this encounter. The pasuk says that Yaakov was very afraid, for as it is written: “vayira Yaakov me’od, vayeitzer lo” (Bereishis 32:8). Rashi tells us that this fear was not for his own life; rather this fear was that he might have to take other people’s lives. In Rashi’s words: “shema yehareg es acheirim.”

A Time To Dream

Posted on: November 8th, 2013

Like our forefather Yaakov, we too need to dream especially at times of transition and change. Whether we are embarking on a new career, getting married, graduating from one educational level to another, or considering retirement, it is critical to take stock and reflect before making that transition.

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Parshas Vayeitzeh: The Mystery Of The Ten Lost Tribes

Posted on: November 8th, 2013

What in the world happened to the Ten Lost Tribes? How could we lose ten out of twelve tribes, 83% of our peoplehood?

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The Sensitivity Of A Tzaddik

Posted on: November 7th, 2013

When Yaakov met Rachel at the well, he experienced conflicting emotions. He felt tremendous joy at having finally met his bashert, yet he raised his voice and cried. Rashi explains that he cried because he came empty-handed. He said, “My father’s servant came with ten camels laden with gifts and finery, and I come with empty hands.”

Stones To Tefillin

Posted on: November 7th, 2013

The Magen Avraham, in siman 42:3, says that one should not reverse the straps from his tefillin (shel yad and shel rosh), making the part that was originally tied as either a “yud” or a “daled” into the opposite end – which is either wrapped around the fingers, or just left hanging down. The reason for this is because the part of the strap that was tied as a “yud” had more kedushah.