In his categorization of mitzvot, the Rambam lists as the first mitzvah belief in G-d. He begins his monumental code by telling us that “…
Beshalach: All Are Welcome
The book of Shemot details the emergence of the Jewish people as a nation. Though descending from spiritual giants, the nascent nation displayed…
Bo: My Dear Enemy
One of the great difficulties we often have is making a clear distinction between people and the ideas that they espouse. While one might reject an…
Vaera: Let My Leader Lead
One often hears people bemoaning the dearth of leadership that seems to surround us. Whether it is in politics, religious life or in the sphere of…
Shemot: A Friend in Need
After years of tranquility in Egypt the inevitable happens and the plague of anti-Jewish decrees rears its ugly head. The accomplishments of Yosef…
Vayechi: Family Ties
One of the recurring and unfortunate themes of the book of Breisheet is that of sibling rivalry and even hatred: Cain and Hevel, Yitzchak and…
Vayigash: Looking Ahead
Since the time of Yosef, infighting has been the Achilles heel of the Jewish people, causing untold pain, suffering and national calamity. So much of…
Mikeitz: The Storyline
Everybody likes a good story. This obvious truism explains why most of us find the book of Breisheet more interesting than the book of Vayikra, with…
Vayeshev: Parental Problems
Ma’aseh avot siman lebanim, the actions of our forefathers are a sign to the children. Unfortunately, we have applied this famous principle not only…
VaYishlach: Do Not Fear
"Yaakov was very frightened and distressed" (Breisheet 32:8). Hearing that his brother was approaching with an army of 400 men, Yaakov was…
Vayetze: The Complexity of Chesed
The Torah is a most complex work, and nowhere more so than in sefer Breisheet. Story after story lends itself to multiple and contradictory…
Toldot: Great Food
When discussing the themes of Sefer Beresheit one would not necessarily place food high on the list. Yet it could be argued that many of…
Chayei Sara: Oposites Attract
The Torah devotes sixty-seven verses to the story of finding the proper mate for Yitzchak. There is no more important decision in life than…
VaYera: The Man of Prayer
Our tradition teaches that the founder of the Jewish people, Avraham, is the one who introduced the notion of daily prayer to the world. “And Avraham…
Lech Lecha: A Man of Faith
“And G-d said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your land, your birthplace and the land of your fathers’” (Breisheet 12:1). With nary a word, Abram picks…
Noach: A Man For All Generations
As we move through the different stages of life, the challenges we face tend to change, with the concerns of yesteryear giving way to the crisis of…
Breisheet: The Creation of Man
"And G-d saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. It was evening and it was morning, the sixth day" (Breisheet 1:31). While the…
Haazinu: The Lessons of History
Despite our long and frequently miraculous past, the actual study of Jewish history is an oft-neglected field. It is perceived by many, to a large…