When we talk about the villain of the Purim story, Haman, we most often go to the origins of his ancestor, Amalek, noting how he (his nation) waged war on those of the children of Israel that were week and lingering at the end of the procession on their way out of Egypt: וַיָּבֹ֖א עֲמָלֵ֑ק…
Tag: Midrash
Yitro. Love. Fear. Awe.
This week, I am bringing you a Torah commentary on the Parshat Yitro, that of another teacher of mine, Alex Israel. You can read it here. I like his d’var because he always brings topics for discussion that you can ponder yourself over or argue about with your Shabbat guests. After all, that’s what we do,…
February 27
Today is the day I remember a woman that was born just 55 years ago. A woman who may not have been the prettiest one on earth, the smartest one on earth, but was certainly all this to me. A woman that is remembered by everyone who met her even accidentally 20 years since her…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses -Miketz
Sitting in the dungeon I cryFor my familyWhy did my father abandon me? Recently, I have hosted a beit Midrash in my house with the wonderful teacher I met at Pardes, Joe Wolfson. He suggested, based on a lesson from Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun that Yosef did not know about the real feelings of his father based on…
Parshat ha Shavuah Verses –Chayei Sarah
There are not too many women whose stories are told in detail in the Torah. Sarah is one of these unique women that merits this validation from the Rabbis:”Avraham was secondary to Sarah in prophecy” (Shemot Raba 1:1). This woman was outstandingly beautiful, wise, modest and strong-willed at the same time. Yet, her death was…
Noshing Across the Nation 