In this week’s Parsha, Toldot, Yitzchak Avinu asks Eisav, “V’asei li matamim ka’asher ahavti”—make me delicacies like what I love—not just food, but delicious, enjoyable dishes. At first glance, this might seem surprising. Why would Yitzchak, one of our greatest spiritual leaders, place so much focus on the pleasure of food before giving the brachot?…
The Yetzer Hara vs. Bitachon: A Battle of the Mind How is it possible for someone with strong bitachon to commit an aveira? This perplexing question underscores the astonishing power of the yetzer hara. The yetzer hara doesn’t fight fair—it chips away at our trust in Hashem, playing on our fears, desires, and weaknesses until…
In this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, Avraham Avinu instructs Eliezer his servant, to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. Immediately before this story, the Torah states that Hashem blessed Avraham “bakol”—with everything. Rashi explains that the gematria (numerical value) of bakol is the same as the word ben, “son” (52). This teaches us that…
We can learn a lot about Bitachon from Eliezer, Avraham Avinu’s servant. Avraham makes Eliezer promise to follow his directions and go to the place of Avraham’s birth to find a wife for his son Yitzchak. Eliezer swears but asks “what if she won’t come home with me?” Avraham tells him that if the girl…
Have you ever been asked a question so surprising, it made you stop and rethink your values? That happened to me years ago on a date when the girl said, “I hear a lot of people where you live are very wealthy.”Trying to redirect, I replied, “Like any city, there are people at all levels.”…
In this week’s parsha, we read the moving story of Hagar and Yishmael’s journey in the wilderness—a story that teaches us a powerful lesson about how Hashem opens our eyes to see the blessings that are already right in front of us. When Hagar and Yishmael were sent away, they wandered through the desert with…
This week’s Parsha tells an incredible story about the power of prayer and the difference each person can make. Hashem sends angels to inform Avraham that He plans to destroy Sodom and the entire surrounding area due to their wickedness. Avraham, known for his compassion and righteousness, pleads with Hashem to save the cities. He…
The Blame Game: A Habit from Childhood When I was a kid, if I stubbed my toe or dropped something, the first thing I’d do was look around for the closest person to blame. It was almost automatic. Maybe you can relate—it’s the instinct to believe we’re perfect and any mishap couldn’t possibly be our…
In Hashem’s promise to Avraham, he is told that his descendants will be like the stars in the sky and like the dust of the earth — and in Parshat Vayeira, like the sand on the seashore. Each of these metaphors holds deep meaning for us as individuals and as a community. A star shines…
Money can be a big yetzer hara (temptation) — not just in the pursuit of earning it but even in the way we talk about it. It’s easy to comment on the success of others, attributing their wealth to family connections, a lucky break, or a well-timed investment. This kind of talk can shift our…
