Parshas Shemos: Selfless Dedication
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier We are introduced to משה רבינו, our great teacher and leader Moshe Rabeinu, as one who passionately with compassion went to feel the pain of his people and later on, in his life, one who saved seven non-Jewish women (daughters of Yisro) from abuse, and one whose “vocation” was […]
Parshas Vayechi
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אחלקם ביעקב אפיצם בישראל (פרק מט פסוק ז) Yaakov tells Shimon and Levi that because of their attack on Shechem- when taking revenge on Dinah’s behalf- they will be scattered throughout the Jewish nation. Rashi expounds further that generally Rebbeim and scribes, professions that do not hold a lot […]
Parshas Vayechi: Life’s Greatest Blessing
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In Parshas Vayechi, we read that our patriarch, Jacob, gathered his twelve sons with the intention to bestow a blessing to each one. What is perplexing is that the first three sons, Reuven, Shimon and Levi are castigated and criticized for previous actions on their part. Why does the […]
Parshas Vayigash
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum והגדתם לאבי…כל אשר ראיתם (פרק מה פסוק יג) After Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, he sends them back to Yaakov with instructions to relay to him Yosef’s prestige and all that they have seen in Egypt. What was Yosef referring to when he told them to repeat everything […]
Parshas Vayigash: Respect for Another
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier As we learn the story of יוסף הצדיק, we are taught to the extent it’s possible and the grave importance for one to value the dignity of another. In בראשית יב:טו, chapter 39:12-15, the Torah tells us that “…she caught hold of him by his garment (יוסף, Joseph)… But […]
Parshas Mikeitz | Chanukah
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum ויאמר פרעה אל יוסף אחרי הודיע אלקים אותך את כל זאת…אתה תהיה על ביתי (פרק מא פסוק לט-מ) After Yosef satisfactorily explains Pharoah’s dreams, Pharoah exclaims that it is evident that Yosef should be appointed as viceroy over Mitzrayim. What about Yosef’s ability to interpret dreams translates into him […]
Chanukah: To Thank and Praise
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier Both in the added prayer in שמונה עשרה, the Amidah and ברכת המזון, Grace after Meals, of על הנסים, where we recount the miracles of the Chanukah story; we articulate our obligation להודות ולהלל, to thank and to praise. We also mention this phrase in על הנסים, when we […]
Parshas Vayeishev
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אלה תולדות יעקב יוסף (פרק לז פסוק ב) The Parsha introduces the story of Yosef and his brothers by stating “these are the chronicles (or offspring, see Rashi) of Yaakov, Yosef etc.” Simply, the Pasuk is saying that Yaakov’s life story was shaped through the following story regarding Yosef. […]
Parshas Vayeishev: Royalty and Dignity
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In תהלים קי”ד, Psalms chapter 114:2 it states, “היתה יהודה לקדשו ישראל ממשלותיו, Yehuda became His (Hashem’s) sanctuary (the family of royalty) Yisroel (the Jewish people) His dominions.” The גמרא סוטה לז, Talmud Sotah 37a, explains that when the Jewish people were trapped between the ים סוף, the Reed […]
Parshas Vayishlach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum ויירא יעקב מאד ויצר לו (פרק לב פסוק ח) Our Parsha begins with Yaakov preparing to greet his brother Eisav who is approaching with plans of killing him. The פסוק describes Yaakov as being afraid of Eisav but this doesn’t seem compatible with what we know about Yaakov Avinu. […]