Category: Inspiration

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Chayei Sarah

In Hebron for Shabbat Chayei Sarah 2022 – The Jewish Community of Hebron

 

After the Bnei Ches agreed to sell Avraham a burial plot for Sarah, the Torah relates that he bowed down to them (23:12). The Seforno (ibid) explains that Avraham bowed to them as a way of expressing gratitude. We also see that when Eliezer saw his mission to find a wife for Yitzhak proving successful, he bowed down to Hashem (24:52). What is the connection between bowing and gratitude? Continue reading “Chayei Sarah”

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Lech Lecha

Photo by Sergey Pesterev on Unsplash

 

‘And Hashem said to Avraham go for yourself…’ (12:11). Avraham was clearly on a very high level, that he received prophecy from Hashem, how did this come about? He grew up in a generation rampant with idolatry and his father ran an idol store. He was completely surrounded by idol worship, no one ever spoke G-D so how did he discover and have a relationship with Him?  Continue reading “Lech Lecha”

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Noach

It is really puzzling how the dor hamabul (the generation of the flood) stooped so low, that the entire world had to be destroyed due to their wicked ways. What caused them to become so wicked? Chazal explains that they were steeped in theft, adultery and idolatry. Let us explore the underlying cause for these sins. Rashi (Koheles 8:15) explains that these acts result from not being happy with what one has, sameach bechelko (one who is happy with what they have). They were not appreciative with all the goodness which Hashem gave them and therefore stole and were involved in adultery. This is echoed by a teaching of Chazal (Sanhedrin 108a) who explains that their wicked behavior was due to the fact that they received so much good yet were haughty and didn’t appreciate it.  Continue reading “Noach”

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The Eternity of Am Yisrael

 

Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

We are living in wonderous times. On erev Rosh Hashanah we experienced such a spectacular miracle. Iran fired close to 200 ballistic missiles into Eretz Yisrael, something that had the potential to cause damage of great proportions. Each missile was around three stories high and was carefully pinpointed where it was supposed to land. Our enemies were hoping that this was something that would result in numerous casualties and fatalities, R’hl. However, Hashem saved us from their evil plans. This was in addition to the thousands of missiles being fired into Eretz Yisrael recently, where the impact was nowhere close to what our enemies had in mind. Continue reading “The Eternity of Am Yisrael”

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What mitzvah do we perform on Shavuos to commemorate the giving of the Torah?

Photo by Pierre Van Crombrugghe on Unsplash

Almost every Jewish holiday has a mitzvah that commemorates the event that took place on that day. On Pesach we eat Matzah, Sukkos we live in a Sukkah, Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar (to commemorate that today is Judgement day). Yom Kippur we fast, on Chanukah we light the menorah and on Purim we listen to the Megillah. Continue reading “What mitzvah do we perform on Shavuos to commemorate the giving of the Torah?”