Posts by Yaakov Klein
Only Passing Through
One of the foundational ideas of Judaism is that this lifetime is merely a preparation for the next, “This world is a hallway before the ballroom of the World to Come”. We are tasked with focusing our energies on connecting with Hashem through His Torah and the dictates of halacha, allowing them to elevate our…
Read MoreWaking Up in the Presence of the King
In this week’s parsha, Yaakov Avinu sleeps in the place where the Beis HaMikdash is destined to stand. Upon awakening, he says, “Surely Hashem was in this place, and I did not know.” The tzaddik Rebbe Reuven of Djarnowitz saw this verse as containing an important message for all Jews, in every generation. One of…
Read MoreBridging 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…
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