December 2021

M’lochim I 2:1 This week’s haftorah records the last moments of Dovid Hamelech’s life and the parting charge which he delivered to his son, the… Read More »Parshas Vayechi

The toddler is joyfully playing with his new toy. It is a shiny stone that he has mischievously picked up from the floor. And with… Read More »What a Stone!

“And it came to pass after these matters that [the messenger] said to Yosef (Joseph), ‘Behold, your father is ill.’…(Beraishis/Genesis 48:1) This is the first… Read More »Aging Gracefully

The following is a discussion of Halachic topics related to the Parsha of the week. For final rulings, consult your Rav. Behold your father is… Read More »Medications On Shabbos

If we could look into the future and discover when the major events in our lives will take place, would we do it? If we… Read More »A Glimpse of the Future

The silly boy in the following story makes at least six mistakes. Can you find them? Can you think of how the story is connected… Read More »The Bedtime Prayer – Hamapil

“A lion cub is Yehudah; from the prey, my son, you elevated yourself…” (49:9) When the brothers brought Yosef’s bloody tunic before Yaakov, he exclaimed… Read More »Capital Decision

(Insights[1] from this week’s Portion: Vayechi) This Week’s RRR (Relevant Religious Reference): “May G-d Make you like Ephraim & Menashe” – from the “Blessing of… Read More »A Blessing on your Head, Mazel Tov Mazel Tov

People usually learn from their mistakes. It seems, albeit on the surface, that our father Yaakov does not. The Talmud in Shabbos 10b explains: “As… Read More »Mixed Blessings

I – A Calculated Risk Goes AwryAsara B’Teves commemorates the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem that would ultimately result in churban bayis rishon (the destruction of… Read More »10th of Tevet – An Avoidable Siege