Parshas Toldos
Rabbi Berel Wein The troubling question that has persisted throughout the ages of biblical commentary on this week’s parsha is: What is Yitzchak thinking with regard to giving the blessings and heritage of Avraham to Eisav? Basically, the comments and explanations fall into two categories. One of them is that Yitzchak is fooled by Eisav […]
Parshas Chayei Sara
Rabbi Berel Wein In truth, our mother Sarah, like many other mothers past and present in Jewish life, has not quite received her due. Rashi, quoting Midrash in describing Sarah’s life, states that all the years of Sarah’s life were “for good.” He must mean “for good” in a spiritual and holy sense, for in […]
Rising from the Ashes
Rabbi Zvi Teichman After the angels conclude their mission in bringing the good tiding of Yitzchok’s future birth, Avraham escorts them on their way out. Unbeknownst to Avraham they were on their way to destroy Sodom and save Lot. G-d realizing that Avraham is in the dark regarding this plan feels compelled to reveal to […]
Parshas Vayeira
Rabbi Berel Wein The story of the miraculous birth of Yitzchak to his ninety-year-old mother Sarah is not only one of the highlights of the parsha but it is one of the foundation narratives of all of Jewish history. Without Yitzchak, there simply isn’t a Jewish people. The birth of Yitzchak is one of the […]
Parshas Lech Lecha
Rabbi Berel Wein The Torah now proceeds from the general and universal story of humankind to concentrate on the particular and individual story of the founding of the Jewish people. The story of Avraham and Sarah, their difficulties and challenges, their loneliness and spiritual quest, form the essence of this parsha and the next one […]
Stop the Bloodshed!
Rabbi Zvi Teichman Eight years ago, in October of 2015, our brothers and sisters in Israel were under attack by Hamas in a spate of terrorist attacks and fatalities. I penned this essay at that time. History unfortunately repeats itself. The message remains ever truer. Hashem is still waiting for us. The holy soil of […]
Parshas Noach
Rabbi Berel Wein After the destruction of civilization in the Great Flood, a new generation arose and searched for a way to immortalize itself so that their existence would withstand any new natural disasters. They gathered in the Tigris-Euphrates valley, and there, they built the great city that would be called Nineveh. And to guarantee […]
Parshas Bereishis
Rabbi Berel Wein In the whirlwind cascade of events that fill this opening parsha of the Torah, one can easily be overwhelmed by the sheer number of subjects discussed. Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, after they exercised their free will to […]
Embracing Challenges
Rabbi Zvi Teichman For a Jew the journey from awe to joy is a short trip. We just cried our hearts out, appealing for a favorable judgment, and in just five days we will be dancing with joy. Are we so confident to think we effected a full repentance that we deserve to celebrate? Is […]
Parshas Ha’azinu
Rabbi Berel Wein The special nature and all of the events of Jewish history are outlined for us in this week’s parsha. Ramban in the 13th century comments that anyone who can, so many centuries earlier, accurately foretell the later fate of a people is an exceptional prophet. Moshe certainly fits that description and test. […]