When it came time to find a wife for Yitzchak, Avraham, in this week’s parsha, Chayei Sarah, was very clear in his instructions to his servant. He makes him swear “that you will not … more

One of the more fascinating family relationships in the Torah surrounds that of Yaakov with his wives, and that of the wives themselves with one another. The following discussion of parsha Vayetze is … more

Our parsha, Toldot, shares three stories. The first is the background to the birth of Eisav and Yaakov and the sale of the bechora (birthright); the second is in the chapter dedicated to the life … more

Avimelekh, king of Gerar, is a tragic figure. He is a king, but is very insecure. He thinks his position allows him to do things no civilian could get away with, but every time he gets called on his … more

Rabbi Yehuda Amital, the founding rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, was known to say at the beginning of the new cycle of the Torah: “I don’t understand anything in parshat … more

Is the manner in which we shake the four species random, or is there reason behind how we are supposed to wave them? One of Rabbi Zvi Dov Kanatopsky’s holiday sermons, in the book … more

For the parsha with the fewest number of verses in the Torah, Vayelech is quite busy. (Nitzavim has 10 more verses, but it takes up less space in the Torah.) Between warnings of bad that may … more

At least three words in our parsha, Nitzavim, could be defined as a “milah manchah” — a repeated word which Nechama Leibowitz Z”L would utilize to draw out a theme in a … more

In our parsha, Ki Tavo, we find Moshe being repetitive with his goodbyes. Which seems excessive. At the end of chapter 26, he tells the people, “G-d is commanding you to keep the laws. … more

If one finds something that belongs to someone else, the Torah obligates the finder to return it. Beginning with an example of a wandering animal, the mitzvah becomes more specific and general in … more