Parshas Shemos
Rabbi Berel Wein The Torah leaves us basically unprepared for its description of the events that are recorded for us in this week’s parsha. When we last left the family of Israel at the conclusion of last week’s parsha of Vayechi, the Jews found themselves comfortable, affluent, protected, and settled well in the land of […]
Ani Yehudi!
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Whether it be Jew, Jude, Zhid, Juif, Yahud or Yid, all these terms of ‘endearment’ stem and evolved from that proud appellation, Yehudi. The blessing of Yaakov to Yehuda begins, יהודה אתה — Yehuda – you, יודוך אחיך — your brothers shall acknowledge, ידך — your hand will be at your enemies’ […]
Parshas Vayechi
Rabbi Berel Wein The traditional rabbinic approach as to why this portion of the Torah is the titled “vayechi Yaakov” even though the subject matter of this Torah portion concerns itself with the death of Yaakov is that as long as his descendants – the Jewish people – are alive and functioning, then Yaakov is […]
Parshas Vayigash
Rabbi Berel Wein The statement of our father Jacob to the Pharaoh of Egypt that “my years of life have been few and most unpleasant” is most perplexing. We all know the well-known anecdote that one of the most disappointing things in life is to ask someone how he or she is and they actually […]
For Love Is as Fierce as Death
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Praiseworthy is the man who has made Hashem his trust, and not turned to the arrogant and to strayers after falsehood. (תהלים מ ה) The Midrash states that the first half of this verse refers to none other than Yosef, who placed absolute faith in G-d. Yet, the Midrash also says that […]
Parshas Mikeitz
Rabbi Berel Wein The entire narrative of the story of Joseph and his brothers, as he sent off the Jewish people to Egyptian society, slavery and ultimate redemption, is meant to illustrate to us the guiding hand of Providence in human affairs. There is no question that all of the participants in this dramatic narrative […]
Parshas Vayeishev
Rabbi Berel Wein Modern writers and commentators have found the biblical narratives of the book of Bereshis irresistible in their penchant for psychoanalyzing people described in terms of modern understanding and current correctness. In so doing, they do a great disservice to Jewish tradition and present a distorted picture of the message that the Torah […]
Angels in Our Midst
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Within the Torah’s depiction of the encounter between Yaakov and Esav lay many lessons for our survival in dealing with this physical enemy called Edom, and the more arduous battle against its spiritual representation, our ultimate adversary — the Yetzer Hara, the evil inclination. Yaakov’s initial reaction is to send a message […]
Parshas Vayishlach
Rabbi Berel Wein The prophet of Israel, describing what can unfortunately be characterized as the usual situation in Jewish life, states that it is comparable to one who flees from the lion and finds oneself in the embrace of a bear. Our father Jacob, who barely escapes from the treachery of Lavan, soon finds himself […]
Parshas Vayeitzei
Rabbi Berel Wein Our father Jacob was a very strong and powerfully physical person. We read of his physical prowess in his previous encounter with the shepherds of Charan and later of his wrestling match with the angel of Eisav at the river of Yaabok. His sons, though young in years, are also very powerful […]