November 2021

Rabbi Sumlae’i learned: Taryag mitzvos, 613 commandments were said to Moshe at Sinai. There are 365 negative commandments which correspond to the 365 days of… Read More »Taryag Mitzvos: No. 613

“…”Yaakov became very frightened and it distressed him…”(32:7) Rashi comments that Yaakov was frightened that he would be killed and he was distressed that he… Read More »A Tragic Choice

Yaakov has overcome the tremendous trials of living for over twenty years in an alien environment and being subjected to severe challenges and injustices. It… Read More »Lets End The Blame Game

Yaakov remained alone. A man wrestled with him till daybreak.[2] Just as “Hashem alone will be exalted on that day,”[3] so too is Yaakov described… Read More »Alone Needn’t Mean Lonely

He [Rabban Gamliel] used to say: Do His will as your will in order that He do your will as His will. Annul your will… Read More »Chapter 2, Mishna 4: The World’s User’s Guide

We seem to find our father Jacob always in some sort of flight. He flees from the wrath of his brother Eisav and spends decades… Read More »Time to Face Your Eisav

This week’s portion entails many of the trials and tribulations that Yaakov Avinu endured, both on a national level and on a very personal one.… Read More »Landmark Decision

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1227 – The Aufruf in… Read More »The Torah Forbids Plowing With a Shor and a Chamor Together

Friday Night THE TALMUD RELATES how Eliezer, Avraham’s servant, went to Sdom and what it was like for him (Sanhedrin 109b). Crazy is an understatement.… Read More »War of Mentalities

Law 4: Even though one’s wife is permitted to him constantly, it is appropriate for the Torah scholar to act with holiness and not be… Read More »Chapter 5, Laws 4-5 – Private Matters