Parsha Hashavuah
Parshas Terumah -The Shechina Dwells in Our Efforts (Video)
A Sicha from HaRav Yechezkel Weinfeld on Parshas Terumah "The Shechina Dwells in Our Efforts." ...
Parshas Terumah - Cedars of Hope
The building of the Mishkan required many raw materials such as gold, silver, copper, wool and precious stones. The Jews donated more than enough of their perso...
Parshas Terumah - Raiding the Pushka and Related Questions
Question #1: TREMENDOUSLY APPEALING! Yehudah presents the following dilemma: “I often feel pressured to pledge to the tzedakah appeals in shul; however, ...
Parshas Mishpatim - On Donkeys, Jewish Education and Synthesis
In this week's parasha, Mishpatim (Laws), we find an interesting civil/ethical teaching: "If you see your enemy's donkey (Hebrew: chamor) straining u...
Parshas Mishpatim - Permission to Heal
In this week’s parshah, the Torah teaches us that if one person caused bodily harm to his fellow “with a stone or a fist”; then the one who ha...
Parshas Mishpatim - Revealing and Concealing Torah (Video)
Sicha on Parshas Mishpatim by Rabbi Yecheskel Weinfeld ...
Parshas Mishpatim - Kidnapped!
This week we read a long list of laws primarily related to civil life and welfare. In what seems as a potpourri of many diverse topics, the commentators t...
Parshas Mishpatim - Learning Torah: That Was Easy!
“And these are the statutes that you shall place before them.” Shemos 21:1 The Dos Zakainim teaches us that “before them” means b...
Parshas Mishpatim - Holiness & Halacha, Intertwined
This week’s Parsha, Parshas Mishpatim, enumerates many laws relating to the daily life of all Yidden. Why after the super high at Mount Sinai, in last wee...
Parshas Mishpatim - Dikdukianisms
אשה וילדיה (כ"א:ד) האשה וילדיה תהיה לאדניה There is a גמרא, I believe it is in בבא קמא but I could not loca...
Parshas Mishpatim - Keep your Enemy's Donkey Closer
In this week's parsha, we are commanded to come to the aid of our fellow Jew whose donkey is crouching under his burden and needs help to load it on. Th...
Parshas Mishpatim - The Talis Exchange and Other Lost Stories
Question #1: THE TALIS EXCHANGE Dovid asked me the following shaylah: “I placed my talis in shul and, upon returning, discovered that it had been replace...
Parshas Mishpatim - The Effect of an Action (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas Mishpatim - Messengers and Messages
Towards the end of the Parsha (23, 20) Hashem tells Moshe Rabeinu that he is going to send a Malach in front of us to protect us and to bring us to Eretz Yisroe...
Parshas Mishpatim - Question Revisited
Last week we wrote as follows: Question Yisroel after Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah, were on their way to Eretz Yisroel. If not for the episode of the ...
Parshas Mishpatim - New Rules of Physics or Translating Chumash?
In the end of this week’s parsha the shalosh regalim are mentioned. The same general language to refer to them is repeated again towards the end of Ki S...
Parshas Mishpatim - World's Greatest Doctor
A most vital Jewish axiom is expressed in the words of our Parsha. The verse tells that if two men are fighting and one strikes the other and inflicts a wound, ...
Parshas Yisro - Custom Made Packages
The Pasuk in this week's Parsha tells us, 'You shall not covet your friend’s wife, maidservant, ox, donkey, and all that belongs to him'. T...
Parshas Yisro - The Astonishing Potential of Man (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas Yisro - Come to Your Senses!
In this week's parasha, Yitro, we read about the quintessential Jewish education experience. In rabbinic literature it is known as Ma'amad Har Sinai (...
Parshas Yisro - Dikdukianisms
On top of Old Smokey... (י"ט:י"ח) וְהַר סִינַי עָשַׁן כֻּלּוֹ As רש"י writes on this pasuk, there is a very distinct d...
Parshas Yisro - The Humble Son-in-Law
At the beginning of the parsha, we learn that Yisro was so inspired by the news of the great miracles of the Jews' exodus from Egypt that he felt compelled...
Parshas Yisro - An Exquisite Duet
As the Jewish nation was now poised to receive the Torah, God sought to entice them to consent in accepting the Torah willingly. God declares that if they are ...
Parshas Yisro - The Astonishing Potential of Man
“And Yisro… heard that which HASHEM did for Moshe and Yisrael” With these words, the Torah explains what motivated Yisro to join the Jewish ...
Parshas Yisro - Uncanny Shabbos Regulations
Question #1: A CANDID QUESTION! Chayim calls me on the phone: “Prior to our marriage, I was taught that one may open cans on Shabbos, provided one does ...
Parshas Yisro - Just Passing Through
Most of this week’s Dvar Torah is from Artscroll’s ‘Torah Treasury’ Regarding the names of Moshe’s two sons, the Torah tells us &...
Parshas Yisro - Stockholm Syndrome Revisited
Several weeks ago (Parshas Va’eira) we went into the question of how it was possible that 80% of Yisroel were not worthy to leave Mitzrayim, and indeed di...
Parshas Yisro - Liberty to Take Responsibility
Sicha on Parshas Yitso By Rabbi Yecheskel WeinfeldYerushalim - 5772...
Parshas Yisro - True Partners
It is well known that the Aseres HaDibros, Ten Commandments, which appear in this week’s Parsha, are divided into two tablets (Luchos) which represent the...
Parshas B'Shalach - Raising Our Hands in Triumph
One of the most inspiring images captured in the Torah is that moment where the crazed Pharaoh, driven by hatred, unbecomingly harnesses his own chariot in hot ...
Parshas B'Shalach - Strictly For the Birds...
From time to time, this space is dedicated to sharing insights about relatively little-known Jewish customs. Much of Jewish life is governed by halacha, Jewish ...
Parshas B'Shalach - 'Fans & Orphans'
The Pasuk uses the term ‘vichamushim’ to describe Bnei Yisroel when they left Egypt. There are a number of explanations for what 'vichamushim&#...
Parshas B'Shalach - Making a Parnassa - The Torah's View
Besides the ‘famous’ parshah in this week’s Torah reading concerning the splitting of the Red Sea and the ‘Song’ which we sang the...
Parshas B'Shalach - Carrying Nitroglycerin on Shabbos
The Torah's concern for the protection of life and health is axiomatic. In virtually all instances, Torah restrictions are superseded when a life-thr...
Parshas B'Shalach - Shabbas Shabbos
The Shiras HaYam has a tendency to grab all the attention in this week's parsha. After all, it is commonly referred to as Shabbas Shirah. However, there is...
Parshas B'Shalach - People Believe What They Want to Believe (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas B'Shalach - ID Theft
In the beginning of this week's Sedra the Torah tells us וחמושים עלו בני ישראל מארץ מצרים. Rashi offers two interpretations of t...
Parshas B'Shalach - People Believe What They Want to Believe
“And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and HASHEM moved the sea with a strong eastern wind all the night, and He turned the sea to damp land and ...
Parshas B'Shalach - That Sinking Feeling
Ma’asei Yodai Tovin Bayom At the splitting of the sea, “The Malachei Hashores (the ministering angels) wished to say shirah (songs of praise). Haka...
Parshas B'Shalach - Adar Sheni and Amalek
Towards the end of the Parsha we read about the war with Amalek. Yehoshua was charged with leading the army to combat this formidable foe. The classic com...
Parshas Bo - The Joker and the King
The final assault on Pharaoh begins with the introduction of the plague of locusts. Of all the remarkable plagues inflicted, only this one is singled out with ...
Parshas Bo - Talented Locusts
Special attention should be paid to the precise pronunciation of ומלאו. י:ו וּמָלְאוּ בָתֶּיךָ וּבָתֵּי כָל-עֲ...
Parshas Bo - Three Blind Locusts, See How They Fly
This week's parsha begins with the warning of the forthcoming plague of "arbeh," locusts. Moshe Rabbeinu warns Paroah (10:4) that if he refuses to set B�...
Parshas Bo - Put a "Spring" in Your Step!
This week's Shabbat Thought is dedicated to the memory of my dear mother, Rachel bat Meir Yehudah Leib HaKohen, whose yahrtzeit will be observed this comin...
Parshas Bo - Respect for the Institution
“And all of your servants will come to me, bow and say, “Leave!” You together with the nation that is with you, and then we will leave.”...
Parshas Bo - Blackout!
This week's Sedra describes the last three plagues that Hashem brought upon the Egyptians. All of the Ten Maccos are fascinating to read about, but most of...
Parshas Bo - Respect for the Institution (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas Bo - Korban Pesach in the Sky
I have been told in the past that I am probably the only person who finds Divrei Torah on Parshas Bo that are about astronomy and have nothing to do w...
Parshas Bo - See Yourself as Pharaoh
The following was published last year. It deserves an encore. The Dancers on the Boat I. The Problem In Every Generation a Person Should See Himself As If He...
Parshas Bo - Torah Affiliation
One of my favorite aspects about Sefer Shemos is that any Dvar Torah said about the parsha can be used at the Pesach Seder as well since the themes are th...
Parshas Bo & Rosh Chodesh
The Pasuk in this week’s Parsha tells us that the very first Mitzva, Hashem, gave Klal Yisroel, was the Mitzva of Kiddush Hachodesh, sanctifying the new m...
What Are the Basic Rules of the Jewish Calendar?
Thirty Days has September, April, June, November, Tishrei, Shvat, Nissan, Sivan, Av and sometimes Cheshvan[1] and Kislev. Yet a reading of Mishnah Rosh Hashanah...
Parshas Vaeira - Escaping Reality
At the end of the first assault against Pharaoh and the Egyptian nation, with the plague of Blood, despite the distress, stench and discomfort foisted on his pe...
Parshas Vaeira - Sicha From Rabbi Yechezkel Weinfeld (Video)
Sicha From Rabbi Yechezkel Weinfeld (Video)...
Parshas Vaeira - Strange Things About Frogs and Dikduk for Vaeira
Frogs As a general rule, the first letter of a word will usually have a דגש unless preceded by a word ending with a vowel sound. Also, if a word is prefix...
Parshas Vaeira - Kamikaze Frogs
At the beginning of the plague of frogs, as Aharon raised is hand over the waters of Egypt, the pasuk states (8:2) "vata'al hatzefardeia," the frog rose up...
Parshas Vaeira - The Measure of the Man
“This was Aaron and Moshe to whom HASHEM spoke....” — Shemos 6:26 After HASHEM commanded Moshe and Aaron to be the emissaries to free the Jew...
Parshas Vaeira - The Measure of the Man (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas Vaeira - The Lesson of Anger
Rashi tells us that the plague of frogs actually started with just one frog, but the Egyptians kept on hitting it, and every time they hit it, it would double. ...
Parshas Vaeira - How Could This Be Fair?
I am writing this week from Ashkelon, Baltimore's sister city in Israel, where our delegation has been engaged in a partnership visit for several days. I a...
Parshas Vaeira - A Panoramic Understanding of Hashem
This week's Sedra opens with Hashem speaking to Moshe. The passuk tells us that ‘Elokim’ spoke to Moshe Rabeinu and told him “I am Hashem...
Parshas Vaeira - Learning How (and When) to Count
Last week we asked and left unanswered a question regarding Efraim and Menashe. Chazal tell us that Yaakov bentched (blessed) them that they should not be harme...
Parshas Vaeira - Stars Fell on Egypt
Hashem informs Moshe that He will harden Paaroh's heart and then Hashem will punish the Egyptians and take His hosts, His nation of Bnai Yisrael from Egy...
Parshas Vaeira - Mind Over Matter
One of the most integral themes of the Parsha is the Ten Plagues with which Egypt was smitten. What is fascinating to note is the fact that all ten of the...
Parshas Vaeira - 'Ani Hashem' - the Shem Ha'va'ya
In the opening narrative of this week’s parshah (Exodus 6:2-8), we have the expression “Ani Hashem – I am Hashem (God)” repeated 3 times...
Parshas Shemos - Just the Opposite
There is an enigmatic Gemara in Sota on a Pasuk in this week’s Parsha. The Pasuk says 'ותתצב אחתו מרחק לדעה מה יעשה ל...
Parshas Shemos - Real Jewish Stars
“And these are the names (shemos) of the Children of Israel who came to Egypt …” (Exodus 1:1) Rashi wants to know why the Torah is enumerati...
Parshas Shemos - If at First You Don't Succeed, Cry, Cry Again
In this week's Sedra the Torah tells us that at some point during the very long time span of the Jews’ slavery in Egypt Paroh died and that Klal-Yisr...
Parshas Shemos - High Stakes Gambling
In the latter part of the nineteenth century a controversy erupted regarding an alleged episode that is recorded in the classic commentary to Mishna, the Tifere...
Parshas VaYechi - Rabbi Joseph Schecter, zatzal, upon his 4th Yahrzeit (12 Teves)
[Ed. Note] BaltimoreJewishLife.com apologizes for not posting this last week for the yahrzeit of Rabbi Joseph Schecter. Four years ago, Ner Yisroel and the Ba...
Parshas Shemos - Giving Life
At this beginning of this week's parsha, Shifrah and Puah are faced with the daunting challenge of defying Paroah's orders to kill all firstborn males...
Parshas Shemos - Arm Yourself!
This week's parasha contains one of the most well-known Bible stories, recognized and retold by many religions and cultures. The midrash develops the story...
Parshas Shmos - I Plus You Equals Us
Parshas Shemos begins the story of the Exodus and how Hashem saved the Jews from Egypt with great miracles and lessons culminating with their establishment as t...
Parshas Vaychi - Was Yissachar Really the One to Regulate the Calendar?
We are taught that the bracha given to Yissachar in this week’s parsha is a reference to the fact that his children were experts in astronomy. In fact,...
Parshas Vaychi - Holiness on Earth
Yaakov Aveinu wished to ensure that even after his death his children would follow in the ways of the Torah. He gathered them together and suddenly lost his Rua...
Parshas Vayigash - Ram'seis: A Tale of Two Cities
In the beginning of שמות we are told (א:י"א) that בני ישראל built two large cities פתם and רַעַמְסֵ...
Parshas Vayigash - Taking Steps Towards Hashem
Parts of this week’s Dvar Torah is taken from several Artscroll books, including the Torah Treasury, the Shmoneh Esrei and Psalms: This week’s Pars...
Parshas Vayigash - Knowing How and When to Move On
When we learn Torah, it should be much more than just studying historical text. The Torah teaches us the kind of life we should live, with almost utopian, yet p...
Parshas Vayigash - Making A Lot of Hay Over "Hey"
In honor of the birth of our new granddaughter to Yaffa and Eli Atias שיזכו לגדלה לתורה לחופה ולמעשים טובים The Torah goes to ...
Parshas Vayigash - A Father's Love
This week's Sedra opens with Yehuda taking the heroic role of advocating clemency for Binyomin's supposed crime of stealing Yosef's goblet. Event...
Parshas Vayigash - Locking in the Moment (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...
Parshas Vayigash - Extra Gelt and Presents
Before sending his brothers off to inform their father that he was still alive, Yoseif hands out gifts to each of his brothers (45:22). Each one received ...
Parshas Vayegash - No One to Blame
The Pasuk tells us that when Yosef couldn’t restrain himself to keep the façade going anymore, he ordered everyone to leave the room. The Pasuk the...
Parshas Vayigash - Locking in the Moment
“And Yosef hitched up his wagon and went up to greet his father, Yisroel, towards Goshen, and he appeared before him, and he fell on his neck and he wept,...
Parshas VaYegash - Why Like Efraim and Menasheh?
Every Jewish person blesses his sons that they should be like Efraim and Menasheh. We do this because Yaakov Aveinu so instructed (see Berieshis 48:20). The Jew...
Parshas VaYegash - "Chap Arein"
As I once stated, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” The Name Yaakov The name “Yaakov” refers to service to Hashem within bou...
The Goodness of Teves
Although the names of the months that we have in our calendar are of Babylonian origin (See Ramban Bo 12:2), there is a Midrash that darshans them. (See...
Chalav Yisrael and Powdered Milk
When Yaakov's family reached Egypt, they were now going to live in a country which raised large quantities of camels, horses, and donkeys, all of them non-...
Parshas Mikeitz - The Three Places Where it is Hidden
Thirty six, seems to be a pretty significant number this time of year. For the first 36 hours of creation there was an extremely powerful holy light that shone ...
Parshas Mikeitz - Chanukah: Just What You Can Do!
Everyone knows that we celebrate Chanukah to commemorate two incredible nisim/miracles. One neis/miracle was the defeat of the mighty Syrian-Greek army by the m...
Parshas Mikeitz - A Seudas Mitzvah on Chanukah?
Here is a question which you can ask at your Shabbos table (or, at any other time during the holiday!), and see how your friends and family will respond: On al...
Parshas Mikeitz - Assorted Didkukians
Be strong! (מ"א:נ"ז) כִּי חָזַק הָרָעָב בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ When properly pronounced, the above means "because ...
Parshas Mikeitz -The Sincere Guardian
When the brothers return home after their first confrontation with Yosef, Yaakov refuses to let them bring Binyomin back down with them. Reuvein boldly declares...
Parshas Mikeitz - Grab the Bull by the Horns
ויהי מקץ שנתיים ימים ופרעה חלם - בראשית מא א , It happened at the end of two years to the day, and Pharaoh was dreaming... A ...
Parshas Mikeitz - I Had a Dream
This week's Sedra opens with the words: “ויהי מקץ... ופרעה חלם ”– “and behold it was after two years (from when Yose...
Chanukah - Oil Change
Everyone is surely familiar with the miracle of the oil which we commemorate on Chanukah. The Chashmonaim found only enough oil for one day (not eve...
Chanukah: The Light From Within
Chanukah is a celebration of the Jewish individual as part of the collective whole. It is fascinating to note that the word ילד, child, is comprised of the s...
Parshas Mikeitz - (Video)
Many thanks to Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier of The Shmuz.com for his video dvar Torah Parshas HaShavua sponsored by Dr. Shapsey Tajerstein, DPM Podiatry Care...