Archive for July 2020
Bridging Heaven and Earth
The Midrash (Bereishes Rabbah 68:1) states that before his departure from Be’er Sheva to work in the fields of Lavan, Yaakov Avinu considered the lives of his forebearers and grew discouraged. “Esah einai el he’harim; al tikrei ‘harim’ elah ‘horim’” – Yaakov looked at the elevated lives of Yitzchak and Yaakov, lives shining with Torah…
Read MoreBeyond Choice
“And behold, angels were ascending an descending on it. And behold, Hashem was planted standing above him…” In Michtav M’Eliyahu, Rav Eliyahu Dessler famously discusses the concept of “nekudas habechirah”, the ever-shifting locus of free choice. (This idea is founded in Likutei Moharan 72.) At different stages of our lives, the dynamic of our free…
Read MoreRachel’s Sacrifice
In this week’s parsha we read about how Lavan tricked Yaakov Avinu into marrying Leah despite having worked seven years for the privilege of marrying Leah’s sister, Rachel. Chazal teach us that because he had anticipated Lavan’s deceit, Yaakov had given Rachel a special sign so he could ascertain that she was indeed the woman…
Read MoreBeyond the Disguise
“Rivka took the clothes of Eisav… and placed them upon her younger son, Yaakov.” Along the path toward closeness with our Source, obstacles, difficulties, and challenges abound. The moment we resolve to return to the Master of the world, the yetzer hara gets right to work, making use of an endless number of strategies to…
Read MoreTo Feed the Whole World
In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu makes a vow as he flees to Charan. As part of this vow, he says, “V’nasan li lechem l’echol ubeged lilbosh,” “[If] Hashem will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear.” Many of the tzaddikim ask why Yaakov needed to specify that the food was to eat,…
Read MoreThe Greatest Blessing of All
Yitzchak Avinu begins his blessing to Yaakov with the words וְיִתֶּן־לְךָ הָאֱלֹהִים מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם וּמִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ – “May God give you of the dew of the heavens and of the fatness of the earth.” Commenting on the word “וְיִתֶּן”, Rashi writes וְיַחֲזֹר וְיִתֵּן – “(He will give), return, and give again.” There appear to be…
Read MoreAvraham’s Spiritual Daughter
Throughout his commentary on this week’s parsha, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov devotes several teachings to the hidden connection between Rivka and Avraham Avinu. While, on the surface, Avraham was Rivka’s great-uncle (the brother of her grandfather, Nachor), the tzaddik teaches that their spiritual bond ran very deep. One of the common themes in sefer…
Read MoreFor No Reason at All
“And Yitzchak went out to converse in the fields toward evening, and he lifted his eyes and saw, and behold – camels were approaching.” Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov zy”a teaches that while both Ma’ariv and Shacharis are founded, respectively, upon asking Hashem to guard our soul when we sleep (“V’emunah kol zos”) and thanking…
Read MoreThe Good Life
With its myriad laws and directives, it is easy to see the Torah as being restrictive and as preventing us from truly enjoying the good of this world. Wouldn’t it be great to do whatever we please? How amazing would it be if we could eat whatever we feel like, sleep for as long as…
Read MoreFrom “Commandment” to “Connection”
Our parsha begins with Hashem appearing to Avraham Avinu who is recovering from having had his bris two days prior, at the opening of histent. In the middle of this visit, three angels disguised as Bedouin travelers stop by, and Avraham leaves Hashem to attend to their needs. Before he does so, he asks Hashem…
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