Certainty and Actuality
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier In the beginning of פ‘ וארא (ו‘:ג‘) , we are taught one of the essential fundamentals of Hashem’s world. “And I (Hashem) appears to the Patriarchs as קל שקי, but My name which implies my Essential Truth, I didn’t reveal (Myself).” Rashi explains the first name is a manifestation […]
Parshas Vaeira
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum הן בני ישראל לא שמעו אלי ואיך ישמעני פרעה (פרק ו פסוק יב) Hashem tells Moshe to inform the Jews that Hashem will take them out of מצרים and bring them to ארץ ישראל. The Torah tells us that the did not listen to Moshe because they were too […]
The Gift of Prayer
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Ramban in שמות ג:י”ד (Nachmanides, Exodus 3:14) teaches us an amazing concept. Moshe Rabeinu asked Hashem, in what manner can he relate to the Jewish people an identification of the Almighty that will be the definitive proof of His existence and providential interaction with all? Hashem answered, “Why […]
Parshas Shemos
Print PDF By Rabbi Shloimie Lindenbaum ויהי כי יראו המילדות את האלקים ויעש להם בתים (פרק ב פסוק כא) Shifrah and Puah, the G-d-fearing Jewish midwives, risked their lives defying Pharoah’s order to kill all Jewish male babies. The פסוק says that as a reward, Hashem established houses for them. Rashi explains this to mean […]
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 […]
Honesty and Impetuosity
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier יעקב, our patriarch Jacob, before his death, blessed his sons. To ראובן he said, “Reuven, you were to have superior positions, that of kingship and priesthood. But due to water-like impetuosity, you forfeited both of them.” Though Reuven had thought he was acting virtuously in justifying his mother’s honor […]
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 […]
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 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 (oroffspring, see Rashi) of Yaakov, Yosef etc.” Simply, the Pasuk is saying that Yaakov’s life story wasshaped through the following story regarding Yosef. The Chofetz […]
The Eternal Personal Lesson of Chanukah
Print PDF By Rabbi Naftoly Bier The Medrash explains that the verse in , Genesis 1:2, “…with darkness upon the surface of the deep”, as referring to the darkest days of human history. This was, Chazal teach us, during the Greek occupation of Eretz Yisroel, during the era of Antiochus. Let us consider the situation […]