Parashat Vayechi

2023-12-29T03:17:07+08:00

When Jacob blesses Joseph’s children he says: let them teem like fish multitudinous in the midst of the earth…R. Hirsch points out that this is the only occasion in the Bible that the noun “fish” is used as a verb let them teem like fish. This unique form is used to draw our attention to

Parashat Vayechi2023-12-29T03:17:07+08:00

Parashat Vayigash

2023-12-20T17:25:03+08:00

In managing the Egyptians, Joseph moved them around: And the people he moved town by town, from one end of the border of Egypt to the other. The Talmud wonders why it is important for the Torah to convey this detail of the story and suggests that Joseph was working to benefit his brothers. In

Parashat Vayigash2023-12-20T17:25:03+08:00

Parashat Miketz

2024-01-11T20:26:46+08:00

And I heard about you – this phrase occurs just once in the Bible and once in Rabbinic literature. In the Bible, when Pharaoh meets Joseph and asks about his reputation for interpreting dreams (Genesis 41:15). In the Talmud, when R. Yosi ben Kisma questions R. Hanania ben Tradyon about his practice of teaching Torah

Parashat Miketz2024-01-11T20:26:46+08:00

Parashat Vayishlach

2024-01-11T20:27:45+08:00

Jacob used different methods to meet Esau: he sent gifts to appease him, he prepared for war, and he prayed. Malbim wonders whether all this was necessary since God had already promised Jacob: And, look, I am with you and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this

Parashat Vayishlach2024-01-11T20:27:45+08:00

Parashat Veyetze

2023-11-23T16:57:27+08:00

Your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth…(Genesis 28:14). The ancient Aramaic translation of Onkelos adjusts this straightforward verse and reads: Your descendants shall be many like the dust of the earth…Why add the word “many”? R. Jacob Zevi Meklenburg explains that it is impossible for the number of people to equal “the

Parashat Veyetze2023-11-23T16:57:27+08:00

Parashat Toldot

2023-11-15T21:39:21+08:00

And there was a famine in the land besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham, and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. Why mention that this famine is besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham? Netziv explains that God brought a famine in

Parashat Toldot2023-11-15T21:39:21+08:00

Parashat Chayei Sarah, Shabbat Mevarechim

2023-11-09T21:58:22+08:00

And Abraham said to his servant, elder of his household, who ruled over all things that were his, “Put your hand, pray, under my thigh, that I may make you swear by the LORD, God of the heavens and God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son from the

Parashat Chayei Sarah, Shabbat Mevarechim2023-11-09T21:58:22+08:00

Parashat Vayera

2023-11-03T02:19:04+08:00

On the day of the Binding of Isaac, we are told: And Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took his two lads with him, and Isaac his son…Rashi praises Abraham who acted with alacrity and woke early to fulfil God’s impossibly difficult commandment. The Brisker Rov is reported to have

Parashat Vayera2023-11-03T02:19:04+08:00

Parashat Lech Lecha

2023-10-26T19:35:15+08:00

And the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your land and your birthplace and your father’s house to the land I will show you. Why did God not show Abraham the land beforehand? Rav Gifter explained that the land of Israel is a place where God reveals things to people, for the land itself

Parashat Lech Lecha2023-10-26T19:35:15+08:00

Parashat Noach

2023-10-19T23:45:18+08:00

And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives came into the ark…of the clean animals and of the animals that were not clean and of the fowl and of all that crawls upon the ground two each came to Noah into the ark…The Torah describes the animals coming into the ark

Parashat Noach2023-10-19T23:45:18+08:00
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