Category: Parashah

In Parshat Va’era (Shemot 6:6) Hashem promises the suffering Israelites in Egypt,  “Vehotseiti etchem mitachet sivlot Mitzrayim,” – “I will deliver you from under the burdens of Egypt.” The Chidushei HaRim brilliantly explains that the term ‘sivlot’ meaning the burdens, the suffering of the people comes from the same root …

  In Parshat Shemot, the Torah provides us with a detail which simply does not make sense. Vayakam melech chadash al Mitzraim asher lo yodah et Yosef.” – “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.” (Shemot 1:8). How can this be possible? Surely everyone, and of …

What’s the greatest blessing one can have? Parshat Vayechi is the parsha of blessings. At the conclusion of Sefer Bereishit, Jacob gives blessings to his sons in Egypt. Before he does this, Jacob summons his grandchildren Ephraim and Menashe, children of his son Joseph, for them to receive a bracha, …

  Vayigash What’s the connection between old wine and Jewish continuity? In Parshat Vayigash we read how Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers in Egypt, (Bereishit 45:4) and then instructed them to go back to the land of Canaan and tell Jacob to bring the whole family down …

This week, the Chief Rabbi explains which surprising character trait we are taught to value on Chanukah What is the secret message of Chanukah? Rav Naftali of Ropshitz, one of the great early Chassidic masters of the eighteenth century, found an allusion to Chanukah in the Parasha of Mikeitz. Yosef …

  Vayeishev: Sometimes, our greatest inspiration comes from within ourselves. In Parshat Vayeishev, the Torah describes how Yaakov favoured his son Yosef and a reason is given for this in Bereishit 37:3:  “…ki ben zekunim hu lo,” – “…because he was a child of his old age.” Mishnah The Ba’al …

  Vayishlach: I have always been saddened by the fact that Holocaust victims have no matzeiva. You can’t visit a cemetery and see a tombstone over a grave for them as one does for all others. Yet I derive some chizuk, some support, from the beautiful teaching in Parshat Vayishlach. Here …

Vayeitzei:   How do we respond to extraordinary experiences? If I were to give a subtitle to Sefer Bereishit, the Book of Genesis, it would be the Book of Dreams. Not only does this book of the Torah present us with details of the dreams themselves, but more importantly we’re …

Toldot: A missing letter provides a clue to the survival of the Jewish people. In Parshat Toldot, we read how Jacob deceived his father Isaac into thinking that he was his twin brother Esau. Isaac declared (Bereishit 27:22), “Hakol kol Yaakov v’hayadaim yedei Eisav.” – “The voice is the voice …