Parsha

"A father of philosophy, the father of the Hebrews and his slave get together,,," sounds like the start of an ancient joke but read on...

There are many other halachos in Shulchan Aruch concerning the Evil Eye. We do not count people for a minyan, for example; and two brothers, or a son and a father, should not be called up consecutively to the Torah for an aliyah.

The Sages mistakenly interpreted this refusal as an egotistically motivated desire to maintain a monopoly, and they summarily fired the entire Garmu family.

Of paramount importance is that both the king and his people realize that while he is the leader, he is still a subject of God.

Shabbos is a window into the euphoric Messianic world when this world will be completely devoted to G-d, on all levels.

For many years Rachel knew she was to marry Yaakov and be a matriarch of the Jewish people.

Bilam describes himself as yode’a da’at ‘Elyon, knows the mind of the most-High. Mockingly, the Gemara says “the mind of his own donkey he does not know, he knows the mind of the most-High?” [A line mori ve-rabi R. Lichtenstein zt”l used to invoke frequently, to warn us against glibly asserting we know why Hashem acts in various ways].

The Talmud continues that if someone lengthens the word echad in his recitation of Shema, his days and years will be lengthened.

Man is a synthesis of his nefesh habahamis (the animal soul), which has physical needs, and his G-dly soul (nefesh haElokis). Man’s mission is to elevate his nefesh habahamis to function in the realm of his nefesh haElokis.

This is not the first Pesach Seder mentioned in the Torah; that was when the three angels visited Avraham and he instructed Sarah to make matzos.

We learn not only from classes and lectures; we educate ourselves through internalized experiences and events.

Having 'real' vision permits an entirely different, improved view of events and the world.

It follows that particularly in Iyar, Hashem supernaturally heals, removing sickness as if it never existed.

One can be held accountable for any words his lips utter, even when he makes a statement and says bli neder (that he has no intention of making a vow).

The Tzadik, whenever he reaches some higher level, some spiritual accomplishment, doesn't want to forget for a moment that there's more, that he's incomplete, that there are infinite levels of progress that remain to a human being.

The first to fulfill the mitzvah of Birkat HaMazon, according to our Sages, was Avraham Avinu.

Utilizing the hidden light of Chanukah, we can defeat Islam and Yishmael.

Rules for true leadership by the greatest leader of all.

while each of us is an individual, we are also part of a larger unit

They considered themselves like grasshoppers, and did not believe they had the zechusim to conquer the land.

The plagues don't reveal a God of vengeance but of compassion; after each triplet Egypt can repent

At times a student is told that he is not capable of learning b’iyun (Torah study in depth), and he is insulted. Yet, if the student was asked why he doesn’t try to learn b’iyun he will claim that he is not suited for that kind of Torah study.

“I came here to get a mask so…Moshiach won’t see my aveiros.”

In this weeks parshah we read about Avraham’s purchase of Me’aras HaMachpelah. Prior to any negotiations Avraham said to the bnei Cheis, “Ger v’soshav anochi…” – I am a stranger and a resident… (Bereishis 23:4).

Nearly every foreign land that Jews have settled in throughout history was initially a safe refuge or land of opportunity. And in almost every instance, our false sense of security was shattered.

At the end of his exhausting second 40 day effort, again without food or water, Moshe was rewarded with a command to hew new tablets, as Hashem accepted his petition and forgave them.

Apparently, it was not only Moshe but the entire tribe of Levi who were, astoundingly, not subject to Pharaoh’s persecution. Why was that?

Avraham and Sarah ended up in the land of Canaan. Canaan? The most debased and decadent society! Yet, there Avraham and Sarah build their destiny and shape world history. Canaan actually held the key to Avraham and Sarah's redemption.

5 sisters, with no brothers, questioned an assumed law concerning land inheritance in Israel-and won

The greatest feelings of accomplishment result from when one invests the most effort in its attainment.