torah

“…foremost in rank and foremost in power. Water-like impetuosity – you cannot be foremost, because you mounted your father’s bed…”(49:3,4) Yaakov rebukes Reuvein for acting… Read More »A King-Size Mistake

There is an interesting Midrashic interpretation of two words in this week’s portion that seem to contrast starkly with their simple meaning. In fact, on… Read More »Words Like Arrows

At the end of the book of Bereshith, as we read in this week’s Torah reading, there is little warning as to what the very… Read More »Redemption from All Exiles

And Yaakov concluded commanding his sons, and he drew his legs [up] into the bed, and expired and was brought in to his people. (Breishis… Read More »In That Way He Never Died

Yaakov Avinu had strong words for Shimon and Levi (Bereishis 49:5-7). Rashi explains that they were the brothers who discussed killing Yoseif. How do we… Read More »Shimon and Levi and Their Tikun

Torah is greater than priesthood and kingship, for kingship is acquired with 30 qualities, priesthood is acquired with 24, whereas the Torah is acquired with… Read More »Chapter 6, Mishna 6: Ways 46-47: Not Without a Fight

BS”D Volume 35, No. 12 18 Tevet 5781 January 2, 2021 Sponsored by Faith Ginsburg on the yahrzeit of her mother Lottie Rosenson (Zlata Chaya… Read More »A Complete ‘Shema’

But as for me – when I came from Padan, Rochel died on me in the land of Canaan on the road.[2] Why was it… Read More »Why Rochel?

But his father refused, and he said, “I know, my son, I know; he too will become a people, and he too will be great.… Read More »Emunas Chachamim

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1231 – Day of Death… Read More »Yosef’s Motivation Reassures Yaakov; Yosef’s Legacy Empowers Us