Chayei Sara

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…

“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…

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…