The Midrash Tanchuma this week relates how in Yaakovs dream he saw the angels representing all the nations of the world climbing up the ladder and then at different points falling back down. None were able to ascend and continue to ascend all the way. Hashem coaxed Yakov to ascend the ladder himself, but [...]
Rav Chaim Shmueletz points out this week seemingly contradictory Midrashim. On the one hand, in Zechus of Avrahams chessed Klal Yisroel were Zocheh to protection and support in the Midbar. Avraham offer the Malachim food, so we got the Manna. He stood and served them, so we were protected by the Ananei Hakavod. He [...]
This weeks parsha begins with the famous test given to Avraham Avinu. Avraham is told to leave his homeland, birth-place, and in fact home to his father and family and travel. Leave, and I will show you where we are going later. This was obviously a very difficult thing to do. Uprooting your life [...]
The Midrash in Zos HaBrocha says אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אֵיזוֹ הִּיא הַבְרָכָה שֶבֵרַךְ משֶה בַתּוֹרָה תְּחִּלָה, בָרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶר בָחַר בַתּוֹרָה הַזאֹת וְקִּדְשָהּ ורָצָה בְעוֹשֶיהָ . וְלאֹ אָמַר בַעֲמֵ ליהָ, וְלאֹ אָמַר בְהוֹגֶיהָ, אֶלָא בְעוֹשֶיהָ, בְאֵלוּ שֶהֵ ן עוֹשִּין אֶת דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה...אָמַר הַקָדוֹש בָרוּךְ הוּא לְיִּשְרָאֵל...כָל מִּי שֶמִּתְיָרֵא אוֹתִּי וְעוֹשֶה דִּבְרֵי [...]
Midrashim from this week’s parsha with insights into Chinuch: 1) The Midrash (Netzavim 3) when discussing “Lo BaShamayim Hiy”, that learning Torah and growth are within everyones reach, many commentators discuss the apparent discrepancy, how learning Torah and growth is really quite difficult. While many have their own approach in explaining the apparent contradiction, [...]
The Midrash says in this week’s parsha “Worse off is the person who learns Torah and does not fulfill it than the person who does not learn it and does not fulfill it”. The question is, both people are not acting properly by not doing mitzvos, but at least the first one is learning! [...]
When reviewing the story of Korach, what I found most frightening was:Korach was convinced from all sides he was right and therefore went ahead with his plan, even though he was very wrong and ended up destroying himself, his family and those around him (according to the Midrash he saw through Ruach HaKodesh that Shmuel [...]
In this week's Parsha we we see a radical departure from Moshe Rabbenu's usual attitude towards the mistakes of Am Yisrael. In general, whenever Am Yisrael sinned, Moshe Rabbenu was always there rallying to their defense. Sometimes, like by the egel, Moshe Rabbeinu would even offer his own life in order to help klal [...]
This week I wanted to share 2 midrashim: The Midrash teaches the halacha: A parent can carry their child on Shabbos even though their child is carrying muktzah. We learn this from Hashem, who “carried” us, his children, in the midbar even though we were holding on to Avodah Zarah. We can learn from [...]
The Midrash notes that Hashem does not “need” or “benefit” from the light provided from the the Menorah. Rather, Hashem commands us to do the Avodah of the Menorah for our benefit. Likewise, later in this week’s Midrash, Rabi Abba HaKohen Bar Papa relates that his practice was to avoid passing crowds and groups [...]