Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha
“… whenever Rivka passed the Beis Medrash of Shem, Yaakov tried to get out. Whenever she passed a house of idol worship, Eisav tried to get out.” (Rashi on Bereishis 25:34) “Eisav is compared to a pig…A pig tries to show it is a kosher animal by holding up its hooves… so too Eisav tried [...]
“And Sarah died in Qiryat-Arba…” (Bereishis 23:2) Most of us are familiar with Chazal’s teaching that Sarah’s passing was connected to her hearing about the Akeida. Why should hearing about the Akeida have caused her death? Many explanations have been offered. I would like to share two of them, both based on a well-known principle [...]
“Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, No; but you did laugh.” (18:15) Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “How could it be that I am going to have a child when both my husband and I are so old?” The question is asked: How could such a great [...]
“This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your children after you; Every male among you shall be circumcised.” (Bereishis 17:10) Rav Shlomo Hyman (1892-1944), the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Vodaath, related the following story: Rav Shlomo Kluger (1785–1869), the acting Rav of the city of Brodt, had a unique [...]
“…Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” (Bereishis 10:9) Rashi: He ensnared the minds of people by his words, misleading them to rebel against the Omnipresent (Genesis Rabbah 37:2). Ibn Ezra: The meaning of before the Lord is that Nimrod built altars and offered the animals he hunted as whole offerings to God. The [...]
“…the sixth day. Thus were finished the Heavens…” (Bereishis 1:31-2:1) Chazal (Shabbos 119) teach that one who says “Vayechulu…” on Friday night has his sins forgiven. It is interesting that in the very first week after the yomim noraim, we are already speaking again about forgiveness and repentance. What is the meaning of this? Rav [...]
“You shall dwell in sukkos for seven days.” (Vayikra 23:42) For most people in Eretz Yisroel, Sukkos is a very enjoyable yom tov, as the weather is quite pleasant. But outside of the holy land, many Jews live in climates where rain, or at times even snow, makes it difficult to remain in the sukkah. [...]
“But the word is very near to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.” (Devarim 30:14) The Torah tells us that the mitzvah of teshuva is close to us, accessible, and within our grasp. People often assume the opposite – that teshuva is distant, unreachable, and beyond their abilities. [...]
"But teshuva (repentance), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (charity) avert the evil of the decree." (Unesaneh Tokef, Rosh Hashanah Machzor) Just this week I had a plumbing problem. I tried to fix it myself, but the more I worked at it, the worse it became. When one finds oneself stuck like that, there are a variety [...]
“For the matter is very close to you — in your mouth and in your heart, to do it.” (Devarim 30:14) There is a well-known story told by Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa (1764-1827). Zundel the woodcutter was barely eking out a living. One night he had a dream: he found himself in a big [...]
