1) Blessing our kids: This week Yaakov gathers all his children to give them Brochos. Rav Hirsch explains the words “Baruch Ata” not as “you are the source of blessings” which many people do and might be grammatically incorrect, but as literally, we are “blessing” Hashem. What does that mean? When we say the word [...]
Before Going down to Mitzraim, Yaakov stops in Beer Sheva to give Korbanos and speak with Hashem. Yaakov was very nervous about going down to galus, not only for himself but for what was waiting in store for his children and grandchildren, all he had worked for his entire life. Hashem reassures him that he [...]
Rashi points out that the Yishmaelim who carried Yosef down to Mitzraim uncharacteristically were transporting sweet smiling spices when usually they carried wears that smelled foul. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz points out that this was a major nes from Hashem, who rearranged the world economy and trade just for Yosef not to be bothered from the [...]
When Eisav finally arrives before Yaakov after being told that he is coming with 400 soldiers and prepared for war, Eisav becomes emotional and embraces Yaakov. He then asks Yaakov who all these “messengers” that he sent were and what was their purpose. Yaakov answered so he (Yaakov) “would find favor in Eisavs eyes”. Rashi [...]
I often hear teens complaining about Avodas Hashem, Mitzvos, and particularly davening, how when they do these things they don’t “feel anything” or ”feel any connection” or “don’t feel like God is really there listening/talking”. While learning the parsha this week, the following thought came to me: Yaakov Avinu is brought by Hashem to the [...]
The Midrash this week tells of a maaseh where a certain type of bird had been spotted but no one could recognize its species and therefore could not tell if it was kosher or not. The Midrash advises to watch when it is resting, what other species of birds land near it to rest as [...]
There is a famous Midrash in this week’s parsha where the nations mentioned bring claims using the Torah to Alexander the great against the Jews, who select one representative to defend them, Gevia Ben Kosem. The Kenaanim claim that Eretz Kenaan was theirs and taken from them by Bnei Yisroel (to which he answered that [...]
The Midrash in this weeks Parsha says ‘Any love that does not include reproval (Tochacha) is not real love.' The message is obvious. Real love and caring requires “tough love”. When things get tough, when we see someone doing what we feel is wrong or bad for them, if we really love them we get [...]
Some thoughts on Bris Mila regarding chinuch: A Philosopher asked Rav Hoshea “If Bris Mila is so intrinsic and so loved by Hashem, why didn’t he create man already that way? When we look around the world we see many of Hashem’s works, created in perfection, but still leave room for us to enhance them [...]
Chazal tell us in the midrash that the builders of the Tower of Bavel had achieved a high level of Achdus and unity, in speech and in goals. The midrash even describes the connection people had with each other as a sincere love, as opposed to the generation of the Flood which hated one another [...]