Tag: Torah lessons
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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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A Personal Storm: When Miracles Seem Impossible A few years ago, a friend of mine faced what seemed like an impossible situation. He had been pouring his heart, soul, and savings into building a brick-and-mortar business. Despite countless challenges along the way, he refused to give up. He leveraged every resource, invested more money, 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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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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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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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…
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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…
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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.”…
