True Paths of Peace
In the beginning of the second book of the Torah, Sh’mot (2:11-12), we are told of an encounter of the young future leader of the people of Israel, Moses, with a cruel Egyptian. “It happened in those days that Moses grew up and went out to his brethren and saw their burdens; and he saw […]
Persecution, Retribution and Intervention
![Divrei Torah - “It will come to pass, if you obey these laws [of the Torah] and you will keep and do them, then the L-rd your G-d shall keep unto you the covenant and the mercy which he swore to your forefathers.](https://treeforisrael.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Divrei-Torah-21-1024x1024.jpg)
On the first verse in the Torah section of VaYechi (the last section of Bereshit, the first book of the Torah), Rashi comments: “Why is this passage closed? Because once our forefather Jacob passed away, the eyes and heart of Israel were closed, because of the suffering of the enslavement, for the [Egyptians] began to enslave […]
Mutual Respect and Concern
In Bereshit 44:33-34, we read that Judah entreats Joseph: “Let your servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father and the lad not be with me?; lest peradventure I see the evil that shall […]
Festival of Lights
For eight days during the year we celebrate the holiday of Chanukah. The events leading up to the initiation of this festive occasion date back to the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE. With the death of Alexander, the Greek empire that had spread throughout the world began to disintegrate. The Hellenistic world, […]
An Evil Tongue
In Bereshit 37:2, we are informed: “Joseph being seventeen years old was feeding the flock with his brothers; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.” It is because of this evil report, lashon hara, our […]
Story of a Sinew
In Bereshit 32:23-33, after Jacob leaves his brother Esau, we are told a rather curious tale: “And he [Jacob] rose up that night and he took his two wives and his two woman servants and his eleven sons….And he took them and sent them over the brook….And Jacob was left alone.” Suddenly, “a man wrestled […]
Magic, Myth or Something Else?
![Divrei Torah - Upon later coming to Lavan’s house, we are told, “Jacob loved Rachel and he said [to Lavan], ‘I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter’](https://treeforisrael.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Divrei-Torah-5-1024x1024.jpg)
In Bereshit 27:10, we are informed, “Jacob left Beersheba.” Eventually, Jacob reaches the town of Lavan, the brother of his mother Rebecca. In this town, he meets Lavan’s daughter Rachel. Upon later coming to Lavan’s house, we are told, “Jacob loved Rachel and he said [to Lavan], ‘I will serve you seven years for Rachel […]
G-d Bless You
As we read chapter 27 of the first of the five books of the Torah, we find, “And it came to pass when Isaac was old and his eyes were dim…and he called his son Esau…And he said, ‘Behold I am old and know not the day of my death. Now, therefore, take your weapons…and […]
Mourning a Loved One
“And Sarah died…and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her” (Bereshit 23:2). Abraham, upon the departure of his wife, Sarah, from this world, recognized the great loss that he had suffered. As a consequence, Abraham mourned and cried for Sarah, his now departed partner throughout his long life. Similar to Abraham, […]
You and Me Together
While sitting by his tent door in the heat of the day, Abraham meets three messengers of G-d. One of the messengers informs Abraham, “Sarah your wife shall have a son” (Bereshit 18:10), and, later, as promised, “G-d visited Sarah…And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age” (Bereshit 21:1-2). By, thus, […]