“And Hashem saw that Leah was disliked, and He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (29:31). The phrase “Rachel was barren” being in the
Although Yitzchak intended to give the brachot to Eisav, Yaakov pretends he is Eisav and receives them instead. Yitzchak soon after realized what happened, and
When Avraham eulogizes Sarah, he surprisingly, as Rav Chaim Shmulevitz points out, barely mentions any of Sarah’s many lofty attributes: not the fact that she
Avraham was the epitome of a giver who truly personified the midah of chesed. What’s the essence of the midah of chesed, and what does
With Avraham and Sarah still childless, Sarah decides to give her maidservant—Hagar—to Avraham as a wife. Hagar conceives from Avraham, and immediately upon becoming pregnant,
With Avraham and Sarah still childless, Sarah decides to give her maidservant—Hagar—to Avraham as a wife. Hagar conceives from Avraham, and immediately upon becoming pregnant,
When Hashem details the steps Noach is to take in preparation for entering the teiva, He tells him, “And you shall enter the ark—you, your
The yetzer hara has many tactics up his sleeve, and we find a fundamental one in this week’s parsha with the nachash. When it comes
Sukkot carries a unique emphasis of being happy and joyous: “You should rejoice before Hashem for seven days” (Vayikra, 23:40). It’s zman simchateinu. How can
Cruising down the parkway, I noticed a car that was seemingly advertising the message: “One Life—Live It.” Needless to say, I was confused. Maybe it
Despite hearing a series of frightening curses that may befall one upon not following in the ways of Hashem, our parsha says that there may
The mitzvah of bikkurim highlights the fundamental midah of hakarat hatov. The farmer gives the kohen his first fruits, which represents giving back to Hashem.
