December 2021

FRIDAY NIGHT THE STORY BEGINS. We’ve seen this movie before countless times. The Jewish people move to a new country relatively peacefully. They prosper, assimilate,… Read More »Template Exile

(End of Law 7, earlier parts quoted in previous classes): He [the Torah scholar] should not speak dishonestly (lit., ‘change his words’), nor should he… Read More »Chapter 5, Law 7(d) – Truth versus Peace

He [Hillel] used to say, a boor cannot fear sin, nor can an unlearned person be pious. A bashful person cannot learn, nor can an… Read More »Chapter 2, Mishna 6: A Religion of Answers

The Parshiyos of Vayigash and Vayechi conclude the tribulations of Yaakov and his sons. In Parshas Vayigash, when Yoseif reveals himself to his brothers, he… Read More »Yaakov, Yoseif and the Sh’vatim

The last seventeen years of the life of our father Jacob are ones of apparent tranquility and comfort. Even though he is already in Egypt… Read More »Jacob Looks Towards the Future

Shimon and Levi are brothers; stolen instruments are their weapons. Let my soul not enter their counsel; my honor, you shall not join their assembly,… Read More »A Strong Dose of Truth

Friday Night THE WHOLE THING is rather bizarre. We don’t think so because we’re used to the idea that we were once enslaved in Egypt,… Read More »Need to Know

B”SD Volume 36, No. 12 14 Tevet 5782 December 18, 2021 This week’s Parashah, Vayechi, is written in the Torah in a unique way. Every… Read More »The Beginning

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1275 – I Don’t Want… Read More »Chessed, Emes & Anava

He saw that tranquility was good, and bent his shoulder to carry loads, and became a forced laborer.[2] Did we hear correctly? He really appreciated… Read More »Torah Boot Camp