The First Mitzvah — Fixing the New month The Torah was given to bring sanctity to the world. Each time a mitzvah is observed this goal is brought one stage closer, as another place and another moment becomes holy. The mitzvah causes holiness to be felt in two dimensions: space and time, but most mitzvos are limited to a specific place [...]

“They will not believe in me and they will not listen to my voice.” (4:1) If Moshe knew that the Jewish people had a tradition from their Patriarchs that a redeemer would arrive (as Maharsha writes) then why did he fear that “they will not believe in me”? However, Moshe’s fear was that after so many years of slavery [...]

The names of Yosef’s two sons.  Menasheh received his name because, “God has caused me to forget (NaSHaNi) all my hardships and all that was in my father’s house”(41:51). This expressed how Yosef was pained by the fact that he found himself in a place which made him forget his father’s house.  Efrayim was named, because “God has [...]

Yosef does not seek revenge against his brothers. We can learn from the example of Yosef towards his brothers that one should never seek revenge against a person who causes him any form of distress or damage. Rather, one should repay even a guilty offender with kindness (Tanya ch. 12). Why should we be kind to guilty offenders? [...]

Yosef interprets the dreams of the chief butler and chief baker. The natural reaction for Yosef, after being wrongly imprisoned, would be utter contempt for Egypt and its government. Thus, when Yosef was joined by the chief butler and chief baker—two of Pharaoh’s high-ranking ministers—it would only have been natural for Yosef to shun them [...]

Ya’akov’s fight with the angel. According to Ramban, Ya’akov’s fight with the guardian angel of Eisav alludes to the suffering of the Jewish people during the times of Exile. The fact that Ya’akov was later healed completely (see below 33:18 and Rashi ibid.) indicates that when the exile finally ends there will be no remnant [...]

Ya’akov’s flocks of sheep. The Midrash describes the Jewish people as God’s “sheep” (Shir Hashirim Rabah 2:16), as an expression of their total dedication to God, like sheep that follow their shepherd unquestioningly. Ya’akov exemplified this level of dedication while he worked for Lavan, remaining loyal to God’s commands despite the spiritually alien environment. Thus, to hint to [...]

The three wells dug by Yitzchak. According to Ramban, the three wells dug by Yitzchak allude to the three Holy Temples. The analogy of digging a well precisely describes the process of building the Temple: First there is a phase of intense physical effort to dig the well, followed by the actual filling of the [...]

The marriage of Yitzchak and Rivka. Shortly before his marriage, Yitzchak had reached a remarkable degree of spiritual perfection. Right at the beginning of his life he was the first Jew to be circumcised at eight days. He was then educated by Avraham our father and later showed an eagerness to sacrifice his life to [...]

“Abraham approached God” (18:23)  Since Avraham excelled in the attribute of kindness, it is somewhat surprising to find that he “spoke harshly” with God, arguing aggressively for the salvation of Sodom (Rashi v.23). This teaches us that, when faced with the task of saving another’s life, a person may be required to overcome his natural disposition [...]

The Mishnah states that Avraham was tried by ten tests (Avos 5:3). First, Nimrod sought to kill him because of his belief in the One God, which forced Avraham into hiding for 13 years. Secondly, on refusing to bow down to an idol, Avraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, only to be saved [...]

“They did not see their father’s nakedness” (9:23) When a person sees another stumble in an inappropriate act, there are two possible reactions: a) one is disgusted by the act, or b)one thinks what can be done to help the person. Cham took the former approach, “he looked at his father’s nakedness” (v. 22) i.e. [...]

God’s completion of His work. Why did God deem it necessary to continue working all the way up to Shabbos, and even to extend His work by a hairs­breadth intoShabbos? What was gained by this feat of precision? God was teaching a lesson to mankind about the preciousness of time. So long as a person has [...]

The admonition here in Parshas Ki Savo contains ninety eight curses, whereas the admonition in Parshas Bechukosai contains half that amount, forty nine curses. The inner reason for this distinction lies in the fact that the curses of the admonition are not intended as mere punishments, but rather as “blessings in disguise,” which spiritually purge and refine [...]

“You may not take a widow’s garment as security” (24:17) The Torah warns, “You may not take a widow’s garment as security”, even in reference to a widow who is wealthy (Sefer Hamitzvos prohibition 241). Now, it could be the case that the lender does not intend to pain the widow at all by taking her garment [...]