Learning From Everybody
If one who wants to be wise begins to believe of himself that he is special, then he will no longer be prepared to learn from everybody.
Are There Times One May Kill Himself?
Toward the end of this week’s parshah Rashi quotes a Medrash that relates the familiar episode of when Avraham Avinu was thrown into a furnace. Rashi recounts that Avraham’s father, Terach, had reported to Nimrod that his son had broken all of his idols. Avraham was then thrown into a fire and was saved. The wording of the Medrash, however, is that Avraham had gone into the fire by himself (kesheyarad Avraham letoch kivshan ha’eish – when Avraham went into the fire, and in another place it says that Nimrod decreed that he should leireid lekivshan ha’eish – go down into the fire).
Aleph Beta: Beshalach: Fruit Trees In the Sea?
A strange midrash of fruit trees surrounding the Nation of Israel as they walked to freedom
Forces Of The Upper World
Hashem placed this world at man’s disposal. In a real sense, man is the steward of Creation.
Where Are The Gedolim Today?
While this is a beautiful illustration of the giving nature of a tzaddik, there is as subtle message here: the man stole a spoon from the Chofetz Chaim. How was that possible?
Carrying the Light Forward
Some 200 years ago, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov wrote a statement that I find amazing: The time will come when being an upright and simple person will be as revolutionary as being the Baal Shem Tov.
Parshas Vayechi: The Power of Forgiveness
Hashem always rewards those who think about and care for others.
Grafting A Blessing
It’s more important for me not to disappoint a fellow Jew.
Parshat Vayigash
Section 456 (g) 1 of The Military Selective Service Act (as amended through July 9, 2003) states: "Regular or duly ordained ministers of religionshall be exempt from training and service." Based on this clause, clergy, including rabbis, have been exempt from the draft since the Civil War.
Parshat Eikev – Rosh Chodesh Elul
We need to have the endurance Napoleon demanded from his troops.
Shabbos Mevorchim Elul
Hashem recalls everything – nothing is hidden from His eyes.
25 Years Later
This coming Shabbat will be the 25th Yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. The mission and legacy he left for us is more relevant than ever
Yosef’s Proof
Some have pointed out that the Gemara says that priyah was not an obligation until Maamad Har Sinai.
Why Don’t We Make A Berachah Over Korech?
The Gemara in Pesachim 115a says that there was a machlokes regarding how one was supposed to eat matzah and marror in the times of the Beis HaMikdash. Hillel said that during those times, when there was a korban Pesach, matzah and marror should be eaten together. His peers argued that they must be eaten separately. The Gemara concludes that since the halacha was not paskened we eat matzah separately, then marror separately, and then both together to accommodate both opinions.
Serious Laughter
We should remember that though Avraham was the first Jew, Yitzchak was the first born Jew. In other words, a certain paradigm of Jewish existence is created by Yitzchak’s birth, a birth in total contradiction to the physical reality of other men.
Gedolim Had It Easy
For the next twenty years Yaakov was an unwelcome intruder in a culture alien to his nature, eating at the very table of a father-in-law who attempted in any way possible to swindle and cheat him.
Redeeming Relevance in the Weekly Parsha: Beshalach
Leading by example must be visible, regarding where, when and how-like Nachshon entering the Red Sea
Bentching After Eating Mon
They bentched nonetheless, though, because they were given a specific mitzvah to thank Hashem for the mon.
Va’eira: The Divine Revelation To Humanity
The ten plagues were part of a deliberate process to educate not only Egypt and Israel but also humanity.
The Connection Between Yom Kippur And Sukkot
This shemirah is represented by the sukkah - a fragile structure made of cheap, flimsy wood, without a door, without a lock, without an alarm system.
TORAH SHORTS: Vayigash: Angry Words
There is no better way to inflame a situation than by answering anger with anger; and there is no better way to forestall a fight than to answer anger with calm.
Restoring The Harmony: Rav Kook On Teshuva (Part II)
Rav Kook speaks evocatively of a world full of harmony. Everything has been created with a purpose and situated in such a way that it stands in perfect balance with everything else.
The Concept Of Arvus
In the beginning of this week’s parshah Yehudah tells Yosef that he must allow Binyamin to return to his father because Yehudah had guaranteed Binyamin’s return. As the pasuk says: “ki avdecha arav es hanar… – for your servant has guaranteed the boy…” (Bereishis 44:32; see also 43:9).
Parshat Behar: The Freedom of Yovel Isn’t What You Think
“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof.” However, Rashi, Ramban, and Meshech Chochmah show tradition understood the key word, deror, as indicating a version of liberty surprising to the Western mind.
Acharei Mos/Kedoshim: Solitude And Isolation
The restrictions Yom Kippur places on each Jew are unique among the Torah’s holidays. Likewise, the intricate and detailed Temple service that was performed...
Korach: The Danger Of Quarreling
Aharon HaKohen is distinguished for his love of peace. Korach earned distinction for failing in this area; his name has become synonymous with dispute and divisiveness. Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, found in this story a striking lesson about the danger of argumentativeness and its application to every Jew.
Redeeming Relevance: The Need for Godly Space… Away from God
Paradoxically, putting on the veil would help Moshe connect with spirituality but when he was actually speaking with God, Moshe would nevertheless remove it.
Achdus
I take pride in being a disciple of the Rebbe. I love everything about Chabad Lubavitch and the wellsprings of chassidus.
Want To Learn A New Zemer?
A friend told me about a niggun for what to me is a new zemer and I have recently begun singing it. It has had a profound impact on me and how uplifted I feel on Shabbos...
Moshe And Generation M(idbar)
Moshe’s punishment described in the parsha is most tragic. He was chosen to redeem the people, he loved them dearly and personally sacrificed so much for them.
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