Parshas Noach
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum וירא אלקים את הארץ והנה נשחתה כי השחית כל בשר את דרכו על הארץ (פרק ו פסוק יב) The Torah explains the reason that Hashem had to bring a מבול, flood, and destroy the world, in a seemingly repetitive way. It says, “Hashem saw the land and behold […]
Is One Responsible for Another’s Development?
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier At the end of פרשת בראשית, Genesis 6:8, it states: “And Noach found favor in Hashem’s eyes.” The Sforno explains, that despite that Noach was a צדיק תמים, a righteous person both in his ideology and actions, his family would not have been saved if not for Hashem’s […]
The Gift of Rosh HaShana
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier At first it seems puzzling and incongruous as to why Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgment precedes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Wouldn’t it be more logical to first articulate our past mistakes, sincerely regret them and proclaim to Hashem, “I will improve my ways” and then ask […]
Parshas Nitzavim-Vayelech
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum אתם נצבים היום כלכם (פרק כט פסוק ט) The Parsha begins with Moshe’s proclamation to כלל ישראל, “You are standing today, all of you, in front of Hashem…” The Chofetz Chaim derives a new meaning, apart from the simple explanation, that all of you are standing, that is […]
Eating: Appreciating One’s Inner Greatness
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In ‘נחמי פרק ח,י, Nehemiah 8, 10 it states (in reference to Rosh Hashanah): “Go eat rich foods and drink sweet beverages and send portions to those who have nothing prepared, for today is sacred to Hashem. Do not be sad, for the enjoyment of Hashem is your […]
Parshas Ki Seitzei
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum לא תוכל להתעלם (פרק כב פסוק ג) We are commanded to return a lost object that we find, and the Torah stresses a specific command to not turn away and ignore it. R’ Shimon Schwab asks, we find many times in prayer that we ask Hashem to not […]
Sensitivity
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In this week’s פרשה, which contains the largest selection of מצוות, commandments (more than 10% of the 613); there are many that deal with one’s responsibility to another and to Klal Yisroel at large. Chazal teach us that in ספר דברים, Deuteronomy, according to all opinions there are […]
Parshas Shoftim
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum כי השחד יעור עיני חכמים (פרק טז פסוק יט) The Torah tells us that a judge is not allowed to take bribes because bribery blinds the eyes of the “חכמים”. The Vilna Gaon points out that in פרשת משפטים there is a similar warning with a slight change, […]
Ennobling Another
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In דברים כ:ה-ח , Deuteronomy 20:5-8, the Torah enumerates those that are disqualified from entering into battle. They are 1) one that built a new house and has not inaugurated it, 2) one who planted a vineyard and has not redeemed it. 3) one who has betrothed a […]
Parshas Re’eh
Print PDF By Rabbi Shimmy Sternfield “עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר אֵת כָּל תְּבוּאַת זַרְעֶךָ” (פרק י”ד, פסוק כ”ב) “You shall tithe the entire crop of your planting.” When introducing the requirement for one to tithe one’s crops, the Torah uses a “double expression” of “עַשֵּׂר תְּעַשֵּׂר” (literally, “Tithe, you shall tithe”). The חֲתַם סוֹפֵר cites two comments […]
