Vayishlach: Stealing
What kind of person would value his possessions even more than his own self? We might think that this description would fit a very coarse, materialistic person. Yet our Sages tell...
Vayeitzei: Oneg Shabbat
At the beginning of our parsha HaShem promises Yaakov, “And your seed will be like the dust of the earth; and you will burst forth west and east and north and...
Toldot: Fast of the Wedding Day
We learn at the very end of our parsha that Esav’s bride is referred to as “Machlat”, meaning “forgiveness”. (Bereshit 28:9.) Our Sages understood this as a hint that on his...
Ki Tavo: Selichot Prior to Rosh HaShana – Part...
The custom of reciting selichot (penitential prayers) in the days preceding Rosh HaShana is quite ancient, and is mentioned already in the early Rishonim. The custom of the Sephardim, as mentioned...
Shoftim: Confusing the Accuser – Part One
A theme which we encounter repeatedly in the mitzvah of Shofar is “confusing the accuser” (Satan). For instance: The Gemara tells us that we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashana both...
Re’eh: Shofar in Elul
There is an ancient custom to blow the shofar in Elul. The source is in the Midrash: “On Rosh Chodesh the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moshe: Ascend...
Eikev: Plowing in the Land of Israel
The Mishna in Shabbat enumerates 39 distinct archetypical labors, or melachot, according to a number of series. The first is the series of making bread, which begins with sowing and is...
Va’etchanan: Ilui Neshama – Elevation of the Soul After...
Often good deeds done in memory of a dead person are designated as an ILUI NESHAMA – an elevation of the soul or spirit. For example, the Kitzur Shulchan Arukh says...
Matot: Delaying Marriage
The Mishna tells us “Eighteen years of age for the CHUPA” (Avot 5:21). But this is not like “Thirteen years of age for mitzvot”, whereby a Bar Mitzva is automatically celebrated...
Matot: Choosing a Spouse
Last week we discussed the first chapter in Even Haezer, the section of the Tur and Shulchan Arukh dealing with the laws of marriage. That chapter dealt with the obligation to...
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