Dvar Torah Parshat Vayetzei 5770 2009

When Yaakov fled from Esav we are told that he lay down to rest and gathered around him stones for protection from wild animals. He did not place the stones around his entire body but the Torah says: VAYASEM MERASHOTAV, “…he arranged them around his head.” (Gen. 28,11)

There is an interesting deduction that can be seen in this passage. The Jew has always been subjected to physical harassment though out our history. He was able to withstand this persecution. We rarely hear that the Jew stood up physically against this maltreatment. When the nations of the world tried to affect our thinking, when they tried to change our beliefs, then we stood our ground and refused to budge.

We did not fight back when they harmed our bodies, as it were, but when they attempted to touch our heads with their ideas, philosophy and religion, we stood our ground. The Jew has never succumbed to pressure to abandon our beliefs.

Dvar Tora Parshat Toldot (Toldos) 5770 2009

When Rivka gave birth to twins the Torah tells us the names they were given. One was called Esav and the other Yaakov. The first one was born and was covered entirely with hair. Because of this feature he was called ESAV. Rashi explains that he was given this name because he appeared fully developed. His hair was like that of a grown person. The name comes from the root ASO which means made or done. The next one born was given the name Yaakov from the root AKEV which means heel. He was born holding on to the heel of Esav.

These are the literal meanings of the names as explained in the Torah. There is, however, another implied meaning in these names. Esav was born accomplished. He became a hunter and devoted his life to this skill. He was completely “made”. He was “done”. He had no desire to change or to improve himself. The name Yaakov, on the other hand, can have another meaning. True, the root comes from “heel”. But this can imply a “step”. Yaakov was always trying to take another step to improve himself. He wanted to take one step after the other to climb to greater heights.

This trait has survived in his descendants who have always been in the forefront of developing civilizations. His descendants have always been the leaders of new developments and new discoveries throughout history, to this day.

THE ULTIMATE BATTLE – LIGHT AGAINST DARKNESS!

Insight on the festival of Lights, please read
(inspired by a lesson by R.Akiva Tatz)

The Greeks wanted the Jews to live by Greek culture. When the Jews refused to change their ways, Antiochus, the Greek-Syrian Leader embarked on a campaign to eradicate the spirit of the Jews, outlawing circumcision, Shabbat, and Torah study. It was then that the Maccabees rose up in protest.
The Jews won this battle through picking up arms and fighting. The Battle was a totally spiritual battle, it was a fight to destroy the Jewish spirit. The Greek-Syrians did not want to kill the Jews at all. They wanted the Jews to adapt to the idolatrous practices. (which would lead to a spiritual death, not a physical one)

So why did we pick up arms? Shouldn’t it be enough to fight back spiritually? The answer is NO. That is not enough. We are taught that, everything is from Heaven except for the fear of Heaven. When it comes to serving G-d, this is up to us,meaning it’s up to us to actually take physical action to get closer to G-d. Sometimes it means fighting a physical war, which doesn’t always mean with guns and bombs…

a) standing up on the bus so an older man/woman can sit instead of you.
b) Stopping what you are doing, putting your hand in your pocket and take out some change to give money to someone in need.
c) walking to shul to pray, etc etc…

These are all physical battles which spread light in the world and destroy the darkness…and get us closer to G-d.

This is the war that we are still fighting today…

Help spread the light of Torah in the world, by Donating to Yeshivat Ohr Avaraham. I continue to benefit greatly from this Yeshiva, and I am happy to be participating in this worthy fundraising cause, and I hope that it will be successful. The success of my personal portion of this campaign depends mainly on my physical efforts, and on those of all my friends and family. (-:

THANKS A MILLION EVERYONE!

Dvar Torah Parshat Chayeh Sara 5770 2009

Before his demise Avraham divides up his possessions among his children. To Yitzchak, who was going to carry on his traditions and his teachings of Hashem: VAYITEN AVRAHAM ET KOL ASHER LO LEYITZCHAK, “ Avraham gave all that he had to Yitzchak. (Gen. 25,5) To his other children, whom he had from all the other wives, he gave: MATANOT, “…gifts…”. (Gen. 25,6) Since this was an inheritance why use the terminology “gifts”? To Yitzchak he gave “all he had” and to the others he gave “gifts”.

Avraham was a wealthy man. The Torah testifies this. He made his wealth from two different sources. His major wealth cme from his own work, his own labor, what we would call his regular income. He also got great gifts and wealth from Pharaoh when he sent him away after the incident with Sarah.

The Kli Yaker explains that to Yitzchak he gave what he earned on his own initiative, from his own toil. To the others he gave the “gifts” he had received. The gifts he gave to those who would not carry on his traditions. The gifts he got he gave back to the source from which it came, the non-Jewish source.

Dvar Torah Parshat Vayera 5770 2009

When Sarah saw the negative influence Ishmael had on Yitzchak, she asked her husband to send Ishmael out of the house. Avraham felt this was wrong. It was only after Hashem said to him: SHEMA BEKOLAH, “…listen to her voice…” (Gen. 21,12) , that Avraham relented and sent him away with his mother. What was the difference in thinking between husband and wife? Why did Avraham not agree with Sarah until he was instructed by Hashem?

Possibly the difference in their thinking was due to their understanding of human nature. Sarah was convinced that Yitzchak will not be able to withstand the influence his brother had on him. Eventually, she felt he would succumb to Ishmael’s pressure and follow his way of life. Avraham believed otherwise. He believed that Yitzchak will in the end influence Ishmael and have his brother follow in his footsteps.

Hashem sided with Sarah. He instructed Avraham to follow his wife’s request. It is more reasonable to expect the evil influence to prevail over the good influence. Why so? Because the evil inclination is stronger than the good inclination and it takes great strength to withstand that pressure.