Category: Parsha
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In this week’s parsha, Yosef tests his brothers one final time. After hosting them for a meal and sending them back home with food, he secretly has his silver goblet placed in Binyamin’s bag. When his steward catches up to them and accuses them of theft, the brothers are in shock. They know they’re innocent,…
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This week’s parsha begins with a dramatic moment: Yosef is rushed out of prison, cleaned up, and brought before Pharaoh. Pharaoh had been troubled by two unsettling dreams. In the first, seven healthy, fat cows emerged from the Nile, only to be devoured by seven thin, sickly cows. In the second dream, seven ripe and…
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At the end of parshat Vayeishev, we find Yosef in jail, interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer and baker. Yosef lived with emuna and bitachon—he trusted that everything Hashem does is for the best, no matter how it looked at the moment. Think about Yosef’s life up to this point. His brothers hated him…
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Shalom (Peace) is one of Hashem’s names. We conclude our tefillah with a bracha for Shalom and the word Shalom is the final word of the powerful Birkat Kohanim. Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi says in Gemara Taanit Yerushalmi that the whole idea why the Chachamim Set up Eruvei Chatzeirot is for Darchei Shalom, to promote…
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Angels in Disguise Have you ever wondered why life’s struggles can feel so overwhelming? What if I told you that they’re actually angels in disguise? Today is the yortzeit of the Bat Ayin, Rav Avraham Dov of Avritch, a great Chassidic master. I want to share a beautiful teaching from his Torah that can completely…
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In this week’s parsha, Vayishlach, we read one of the most powerful moments in Yaakov’s journey. After an all-night wrestling match with Eisav’s malach, Yaakov prevails. The malach blesses him, saying: “Your name shall no longer be Yaakov, but Yisrael, for you have struggled with angels and men and have prevailed.” Later in the parsha,…
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In Parshat Vayeitzei, we read about Yaakov Avinu’s journey from Be’er Sheva to Charan. Fleeing from Esav and stepping into the unknown, Yaakov encounters Hashem in a powerful dream. This dream becomes a turning point in his life, but it also reveals a profound lesson about perspective and recognizing Hashem’s presence, even in challenging times.…
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This week’s parsha, Vayeitzei, highlights the power of tefillah—prayer—and how its effectiveness is proportionate to the depth of emotion we bring to it. Hashem doesn’t want only our words or intellect; He desires our hearts, souls, and entire being in our connection with Him. This idea comes to life in the contrasting stories of Leah…
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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?…
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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…
