Yisro 5785: Ma’amad Har Sinai: A Path to Yiras Shamayim

Yisro 5785: Ma’amad Har Sinai: A Path to Yiras Shamayim

What is the highlight of Parshas Yisro? Matan Torah. Matan Torah is the greatest event that happened in history. There is nothing that even comes close to that event. In Parshas Vaeschanan, Moshe Rabeinu warns us, in the strongest terms, to be exceedingly careful and to guard ourselves very much against not forgetting the event that our own eyes saw. You have to see the event, you have to remember the event, and you have to have this event at the front of your heart.

Beshalach 5785: Using Challenges to Build Your Bitachon

Beshalach 5785: Using Challenges to Build Your Bitachon

In the past, we discussed how having pachad and fears does not help a person get siyatta diShmaya. Sometimes, when we see somebody who looks scared and afraid, our hearts go out to that person and we want to help them. So, many people think that if they look afraid and they act scared, Hashem is going to help them. Does that logic make sense to you? No. Why?

Bo 5785: Teshuva: It’s Never Too Late

Bo 5785: Teshuva: It’s Never Too Late

In the beginning of the Parshah, Hashem is talking to Moshe and tells him to come to Pharaoh “…For I have hardened his heart…” My Rebbi pointed out that this pasuk says that Hashem hardened Pharaoh’s heart in order to bring upon him all these miraculous blows. Based on this, if Hashem would not have hardened Pharaoh’s heart, He would not have been able to bring these miraculous blows on Pharaoh. My Rebbi said, “What’s the p’shat in that?”

Vaera 5785: The Beginning of Our Redemption

Vaera 5785: The Beginning of Our Redemption

In this week’s parshah, we encounter the yetzias Mitzrayim. Pharaoh will tell you, Moshe and Aharon, to show him some miraculous proof that you are agents of Hashem and you are not just saying it on your own. Say to Aharon, take your staff, throw it down before Pharaoh, and this stick will turn into a serpent, a type of a snake. Interesting, the choice of words that Hashem uses, tanin, a word that is also used to refer to sea serpent. This was similar to the miracle that Moshe performed for the Jewish nation when he first came to see them but over there the staff became a nachash. In front of Pharaoh it didn’t become a snake. It became a tanin.

Shemos 5785: Tackling Your Inner Pharaoh

Shemos 5785: Tackling Your Inner Pharaoh

This week’s parshah begins by discussing the galus Mitzrayim, followed by the yetzias Mitzrayim. Every time you learn a sugya, you have to know its essence. Yetzias Mitzrayim has so many lessons, but you have to understand what is the essence of yetzias Mitzrayim. If somebody would ask you, what does yetzias Mitzrayim mean to you, you’d first have to know what galus Mitzrayim means in order to answer that question.

Vayechi 5785: Bitachon: Our Only Hope

Vayechi 5785: Bitachon: Our Only Hope

There are a lot of hints that Yaakov Avinu foresaw the future of Klal Yisrael, and he mentioned them in the birchas Yaakov. Chazal tell us that Yaakov Avinu foresaw how Shimshon Hagibor will defeat the enemies of Klal Yisrael in an unbelievable way and Yakov thought that Shimshon was going to be the Moshiach, but since he saw that Shimshon was going to die, Yaakov Avinu realized he’s not going to be the Moshiach. So, what did Yaakov Avinu say next?

Vayigash 5785:   The Quickest Way Out of Your Challenge

Vayigash 5785:   The Quickest Way Out of Your Challenge

In this week’s parshah, we encounter a life challenge that many of us will face to some degree. Most people lose themselves completely when they face such a challenge. The Torah says that when Yosef finally meets his brothers and he tells them, “…don’t be angry at yourself that you sold me.” Could you imagine if you had a brother or brothers that sold you into slavery?! And then that sale ended you up in jail, in the papers? You’d be very, very upset. But Yosef tells his brother not to be sad…

Vayishlach 5785:  Influences of Universities

Vayishlach 5785:  Influences of Universities

In this week’s parshah, Yaakov Avinu is encountering his brother Eisav. And Eisav was quite upset with Yaakov. Eisav came to kill him. And the emes is, you know, that Chazal tell us what really happened. The malachim that Yaakov sent to greet Eisav had to teach Eisav a lesson that he wouldn’t forget. It says they began to beat him up. Eisav wasn’t used to getting pushed around, and they pashut beat him up and he was pleading with them to stop and to have rachmanus.