“Go out and learn what Lavan the Aramean sought to do to Yaakov, our father; Pharaoh only decreed […
Toldot: Out in the Field
Our Sages were no respecters of persons. When they felt a wrong was committed, they called it out…
Chayei Sarah: A Blessed Life
Yitzchak brought [Rivka] into mother Sarah's tent and he married Rivka. She became his wife, and he…
Vayera: Avraham's Torah
Rabbinic tradition maintains that the Torah existed even before the creation of the world, in…
Lech Lecha: A Faithful Journey
The Torah provides very little biographical information. Rather, it highlights significant events…
Noach: Unity and Uniformity
“And the entire land were of one language, and the same things” (Breisheet 11:1). What a beautiful…
Breisheet: From Beginning to End
A history book, a law book[1], a book of theology, editorial comments, a book of philosophy, a…
Vzot Habracha: The Ends of the Chumash
If one wants to get a quick overview of a book one tends to read the introduction or perhaps the…
Sukkot: The First Sin
“And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of the hadar tree, date palm fronds…
Reflections on Daf Yomi Turning 100
Rosh Hashanah marked 100 years of Daf Yomi. I have seen surprisingly little written about this…
Yom Kippur: Sinning Under Duress
“For the sin we sinned before You, b’ones u’beratzon, under duress and willingly. So…
Haazinu: Calling G-d's Name
“Haazinu Hashamayim vadebera, vatishma haaretz imrei pi, Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; Let the…
Rosh Hashanah: Come Together
“Ubechen, Please G-d instill pachdecha, terror upon all Your works and eimatecha, Your dread upon…
Nitzavim: Water and Wood
"You are standing this day all of you before the Lord your God: your heads, your tribes, your…
Ki-Tavo: The Joy of Gratitude
Why does misfortune befall the Jewish people? While there is no simple answer – or perhaps no…
Ki-Teze: Helping our Enemies
One of the beautiful aspects of our Torah is the fact that it deals with real-life issues, and with…
Some Thoughts on Becoming Grandparents
The thoughts below are dedicated in celebration of the birth of our granddaughter, Tikva…
Shoftim: The High Court
Long before Lord Acton, the Torah well understood that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts…