Rav’s Blog

Rav Zachariash’s weekly blog on the parsha

Resolve or Dissolve 5785

“…but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall surely die.” (Bereishis 2:17) The source verse above was said by Hashem to Adam Harishon. To me, this seems to indicate that the punishment would be immediate — [...]

By |2024-10-21T18:41:16+03:00October 21st, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

The Great Outdoors

But Jacob journeyed on to Succot and built a house for himself and made sukkos for his cattle; that is why the place was called Sukkos. (Bereishis 33:17) The Torah tells us that when Yaakov left Lavan’s house on his way back to Eretz Yisrael, he stopped and built himself a house, and for his [...]

By |2024-10-13T15:42:31+03:00October 13th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Always a Winner

Aseres yemei teshuva, which culminates on Yom Kippur, brings hope to some, and despair to others. The optimists say, “This year will be the year that I, with Hashem’s help, will turn things around!” The pessimists say, “It hasn’t happened until now, so why should I be able to turn things around this year? In [...]

By |2024-10-09T21:38:39+03:00October 6th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

Sweet Revenge

O nations, acclaim God’s people! For He’ll avenge the blood of His servants, wreak vengeance on His foes, and cleanse His people’s land. (Devarim 32:43) In Avinu Malkeinu we say נקם נקמת דם עבדיך השפוך (avenge the spilled blood of Your servants). While this prayer might be appropriate at certain times, how is it appropriate [...]

By |2024-09-30T15:10:10+03:00September 29th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Though I Fell, I Will Rise

“And it will be…he will bless himself in his heart saying – Peace will be with me, though I walk as my heart sees fit…HASHEM will not be willing to forgive him…” (Devarim 29:18-19) Parents often tell their children, “If you behave properly, then you will get a very special prize which I know you [...]

By |2024-09-26T12:18:21+03:00September 26th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

An A For Effort

“The priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down in front of the altar of Hashem your G-d. (Devarim 26:4) The Mishnah in Bikurim (3:8) tells us that the rich people brought their first fruits in baskets woven from gold and silver, while the poor people brought their first fruits in [...]

By |2024-09-16T18:38:39+03:00September 15th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

Forwards, Backwards

When you [an Israelite warrior] take the field against your enemies, and your God delivers them into your hand and you take some of them captive (Devarim 21:10) Rashi: Scripture is speaking here of a war that is not obligatory upon the Israelites… Rashi tells us that it is only permissible to take a woman [...]

By |2024-09-10T18:52:06+03:00September 8th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , , |0 Comments

You Can Do It Too

A prophet from your midst, from your brothers, like me, shall Hashem establish for you, to him you shall hearken. (Devarim 18:15) I have a close friend who is an exceptional Talmud chacham. As a child he played ball and had fun like everyone else, and was “one of the guys.” Already in his adolescence [...]

By |2024-09-01T10:57:24+03:00September 1st, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

A Relatively Long Trip

“And if the road will be too long for you, so that you cannot carry it, because the place that Hashem, Your G-d will choose to place His name there, is far from you, for Hashem, your G-d will have blessed you.” (Devarim 14:24) The Torah tells us that one is permitted to exchange his [...]

By |2024-08-25T18:16:14+03:00August 25th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments

The Real Value of Mitzvos

“This shall be the reward when you hearken to these ordinances…” (Devarim 7:12) Rashi: If even the lighter commands which a person usually treads on with his heels (i.e. which a person is inclined to treat lightly), he will hearken to. Chazal tell us that the mitzvos referred to are the ones which people trample [...]

By |2024-08-19T19:50:34+03:00August 18th, 2024|Categories: Rav's Blog|Tags: , |0 Comments
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