Mishpatim 5570 “If you take your neighbor’s garment as security, until sunset you shall return it to him, for it is his only covering; it is his garment for his skin. With what shall he lie? And it shall be [that] if he cries out to Me, I will hear because I am gracious” (Shemos… Continue reading “According to the Measure”
Tag: Aaron Abramson
“They Have Done Well”
Yisro 5770 When the Aseres HaDibros are repeated in Devarim, Hashem responds to the request of B’nai Yisrael that He not communicate directly with them lest they be killed by the experience, saying: “They have done well in all that they have spoken. Would that their hearts be like this, to fear Me and to… Continue reading “They Have Done Well”
Allied with Hashem
Beshalach 5770 Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, quoted in Mipninei HaRav, asks why B’nai Yisrael failed to sing at the time of the exodus the way that they sang during the splitting of the sea. He answers, that the difference between the two salvations is that while the exodus was performed entirely by Hashem, B’nai Yisrael… Continue reading Allied with Hashem
“For All the Children of Israel There Was Light”
Bo 5770 During the plague of darkness, the Torah tells us that the Egyptians “did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days, but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings” (Shemos 10:23). What is the significance of the children of Israel having light?… Continue reading “For All the Children of Israel There Was Light”
“Shortness of Breath”
VaEira 5770 Hashem commands Moshe to tell B’nai Yisrael of their upcoming redemption, despite knowing that His words would be disregarded by them – “but they did not hearken to Moshe because of [their] shortness of breath and because of [their] hard labor” (Shemos 6:9). The Sfas Emes questions Hashem’s insistence in delivering a message… Continue reading “Shortness of Breath”
“…he will rejoice in his heart.”
Shemos 5770 Hashem tells Moshe that his older brother Aharon will serve as his spokesperson, and He further comments to him that when Aharon “sees you he will rejoice in his heart” (Shemos 4:14). Our Sages lavishly praise Aharon for not being jealous nor taking issue with his younger brother – who had been missing… Continue reading “…he will rejoice in his heart.”
“The humble will inherit the Earth”
VaYechi 5770 Yaakov Avinu gave priority in his blessing of Yosef’s sons to the younger of the two, Efraim. The Ba’al HaTurim finds a hint in the Torah’s description of the event that Efraim was honoured above his brother because “he had humbled himself.” Humility is often not given its due admiration in our society;… Continue reading “The humble will inherit the Earth”
“Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation”
Mikeitz – Shabbos Chanukah 5770 “[T]he wicked Greek Kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to force them to transgress the statutes of Your will. It was then that You in Your great compassion stood by them in the time of their distress” (Al HaNissim). The Eish Kodesh… Continue reading “Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End for salvation”
“Hashem frees those in captivity”
VaYeishev – Shabbos Chanukah 5770 The Talmud (Yoma 35b) recounts the attempted seduction of Yosef by Potiphar’s wife, with the following conversation between them: She threatened him, ‘I will have you thrown into prison!’ he replied, ‘Hashem frees those in captivity’ (Tehillim 146). She pushed further, ‘I will cut down your height!’ and he responded,… Continue reading “Hashem frees those in captivity”
“…the remaining camp shall survive”
VaYishlach 5770 “Jacob became very frightened, and it distressed him. So he divided the people with him, and the flocks, cattle, and camels, into two camps. For he said, ‘If Eisav comes to the one camp and strikes it down, then the remaining camp shall survive’” (Bereishis 32:8-9). The Ramban explains based on a Midrash,… Continue reading “…the remaining camp shall survive”