Archive for the ‘ 1-Bereshit ’ Category

Dvar Torah Parshat Vayechi 5772 2012

Of Yosef’s two sons, Menashe was the eldest and Ephraim the youngest. Yet when Yaakov blessed them he gave the blessing of the Bechor to Ephraim and not to Menashe. Re’uven was Yaakov’s Bechor and when Yaakov blessed his own children he should have given the priesthood and kingship of the Jewish people to him. [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Vayigash 5772 2011

Yehudah is pleading with Yosef to allow Binyamin to return to their father. He recounts the discussion Yosef had with them during their previous visit to Egypt. He relates that at that time Yosef said to them: IM LO YERED ACHICHEM HAKATON ITCHEM, “…if your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat VaYeshev 5772 2011

Yaakov sends Yosef to Shechem to see how his brothers are faring. The brothers were to be there pasturing their flock. The distance between Chevron, where Yaakov was, and Shechem is over 80 kilometers (close to 50 miles). Why did they have to go so far? Couldn’t they find a place closer to home for [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Vayishlach 5772 2011

The angel who fought with Yaakov asked him for his name. When he was told, the angel said: LO YA’AKOV YE’AMER OD SHIMCHA KI IM YISRAEL, “…no longer will it be said that your name is Yaakov, but Yisrael…”. (Gen. 32,29) In reality this is a blessing and a great tribute to Yaakov but it [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat VaYetze 5772 2011

The Torah tells that when Yaakov was ready to lie down to sleep, VAYIKACH ME’AVNE HAMAKOM, “… he took from the stones of the place which he arranged around his head…”. (Gen. 28,11) When he arose the Torah says, VAYIKACH ET HA’EVEN, “…and took the stone that he placed around his head…”. (28,18) Obviously there [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Toldot 5772 2011

Yaakov goes to his father Yitzchak to receive the blessings intended for Esav. His mother Rivka advises him to don the garments of his brother so if his father will draw him close he will realize that it is not Esav. Yaakov complies with his mother’s advice and enters into his father’s chambers. His father [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Chaye Sarah 5772 2011

When Avraham sends his trustworthy servant Eliezer to find a wife for Yitzchak, he tells him to go: EL ARTZI VE’EL MOLADETI, “to my land and to my birthplace”. (Gen. 24,4) When Eliezer relates to Rivka’s family the mission he was given by Avraham he says he was told to go: EL Bet Avi, “to [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat VaYera 5772 2011

When Avimelech admonished Avraham for telling him that Sarah was his sister and demanded to know why he had told him that, Avraham answered, “Because I said”: RAK EIN YIRAT ELOKIM BAMAKOM HAZEH, “there is but no fear of G-d in this place…”. (Gen. 20,11) Avraham was afraid that since there is no fear of [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Lech Lecha 5772 2011

Hashem speaks to Avraham and tells him to leave his land, his birthplace and his father’s house and He directs him to Israel. As a reward for observing this command Avraham is promised: VE’ESCHA LEGOY GADOL VA’AVARECHECHA VA’AGADLAH SHEMECHA VEHEYEH BERACHAH, “And I will make of you a great nation, I will bless you, and [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Noach 5772 2011

Before the flood all mankind was descendant from one man – Adam. Human beings became corrupt and Hashem destroyed all in the universe except for Noach and his descendants. After the flood all mankind descended from Noach who himself was a progeny of Adam. (Of course, so was his wife.) In both cases Hashem gave [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Bereishit 5772

As we start reading the Torah anew we cannot help but notice that it starts with the letter BET. Many Drashot have been said about this fact and also about the shape of the letter. There is, however, a very interesting Drasha that a Magid or preacher once gave. He pointed out that the Talmud [ READ MORE ]

Dvar Torah Parshat Vayechi 5771 2010

Yaakov is blessing Yosef’s sons and we see a striking similarity with the blessing his father gave him. We find an elderly father and an elderly grandfather giving a blessing to their offspring. Both have difficulty seeing. (Gen. 27,1; 48,10) In both cases the blessings are preceded with a kiss. (Gen. 27,27; 48,10) In both [ READ MORE ]

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