The Secret Chambers of Rosh Hashanah

Parshas Nitzavim Codes the Secret to Make it Through Rosh Hashanna

Delivered 9/3/23 in Kehillas Ahavas Torah, Scottsdale, Arizona

Delivered Motzei Shabbos Ki Savo 2023 over Melaveh Malka at the Home of Moshe Uri Lobel in Scottsdale Arizona  

Delivered 8/31/23 in Scottsdale Arizona Audio version:

  Delivered 8/29/23 to the Denver Kollel  

Delivered 8/30/23 at “Words & Whiskey” Scottsdale Arizona Audio version:

An brutally honest introspective analysis of OUR culpability of the world’s ills, why we’re still in Golus, and the beis HaMikdash has not been rebuilt. This presentation is not for the delusional or cowards

2023 Siyum and Gala Dinner Address - Marking the Yahzeit of the Arizal: Rabbi Yotzchak Luria A"H

Delivered 5/1/23 in Congregation Ohr Natan in Queens NY  

 

A brave and honest analysis based solely on the Rambam’s own words. Delivered in Merkaz L’Torah v’Tefillah Motzei Shabbos parshas Shemos 1/15/23

Delivered in Merkaz L’Torah v’Tefillah Motzei Shabbos parshas Shemos 1/14/23

Delivered in the office of City Horizon group 1/12/23

Follow along at https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3893&st&pgnum=12 The timeless legendary motivational book on self actualization in all areas of spiritual, intellectual, and character growth Good for ages 12 – 120

Series for all parents educators and members of vaad HaChinuch worldwide Follow along at https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3893&st&pgnum=3  

Follow along at https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=3893&st&pgnum=2 The revolutionary & timeless vision for Jewish Education of Rav Klonimus Kalmish Shapira Of Piecezna הי”ד  

A message for the 10th of Teves and the 6th Yahrtzeit of my Rebbe Rav Moshe Shapira זצוקללה”ה

What can be counted as a Mitzva to make it into the list of the 613?

G-D given interpretations Halacha L’Moshe M’Sinai The two major usages of Drashos Types of DeRabbanans (Rabbinic Law)

This presentation discusses the elemental components of the Oral Law.

This series will examine the 613 mitzvos, what they are, what are the main concepts and topics they contain and where they can be found in the Chumash, Talmud, Rambam, and Shulchan Aruch. The series of “introductions” explains why there are “only 613” and what qualifies to be counted in the list of 613

Delivered Thursday night, 5th candle of Chanukahץ 12/22/22 In the home of Steve & Alissa Grill לע”נ זאב בן שמואל

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Deliveredin Houston at a Melaveh Malka Motzei Shabbos parshas Vayeshev 5783

Delivered 12/15/22 in Congregation Beth Rambam Houston Texas

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An address for Parshas Vayishlach & Chanukah delivered in the Mesivta of Cincinnati 12/9/222

An address at the  gala STEAK & SPIRITS event Motzei Shabbos Cincinnati 12/10/22

Delivered in the Cincinnati Community Kollel Sunday 12/11/22

Given at Cincinnati Community Kollel Thursday night 12/8/22  

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Maharal on Chanukah translated and explained by his direct descendant Rabbi Bechhofer To follow this lecture in text go to https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=15

Hakamas Matzeiva for Rabbi Bechhofer’s father, David ben Hachaver Yosef Dov a’h (Mr. Ernst David Bechhofer)

The Maharal’s classic book on Chanukah taught and explained by Rabbi Bechhofer – a direct descendant of the Maharal. To follow along in text, today’s page couldn be found at https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=14 This session is dedicated לרפואת ישראל יעקב בו דאבא נ”י ולרפואת עקיבה גרשון בן רחל בתיה נ”י בתושח”י

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Chavrusah with the Rosh Yeshiva: Sanhedrin 76B – Part 5

Maharal Ner Mitzvah part 6

Chavrusah with the Rosh Yeshiva: Sanhedrin 76B - Part 4

Learn Maharal with Rabbi Bechhofer – his direct descendant To follow along inside for today’s piece go to https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=11

Chavrusah with the Rosh Yeshiva – Sanhedrin 76B part 3

Chavrusah with the Rosh Yeshiva – Sanhedrin 76B part 2

The Maharal’s classic work on Chanukah, taught and explained by his direct descendant, The Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Yochanan Bechhofer To follow along inside for this session go to: https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=10

A Message for Thanksgiving 2022 from the רשב"א (You read correctly)

The Maharal’s classic work on Chanukah, taught and explained by his direct descendant, The Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Yochanan Bechhofer To follow along inside for this session go to: https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=9

The Maharal’s classic work on Chanukah, taught and explained by his direct descendant, The Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Yochanan Bechhofer To follow along inside for this session go to: https://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14191&st=&pgnum=8

Concluding The Discussion on the written Torah with the specialty and eternality of Megillas Esther.

A huge opportunity to learn privately with Rav Bechhofer as a Chavrusah! This is not a prepared Shiur, this is to learn a sugya “from scratch” and apprentice Rav Bechhofer in the journey of learning a Gemara for the first time to completing a masterful Shiur Klali

The Maharal’s classic work on Chanukah, taught and explained by his direct descendant, The Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Yochanan Bechhofer

What are Kesuvim? What is the secret of the eternality of the Book of Esther? Can prophecy or Ruach HaKodesh play any role in Halacha or even in the interpretation of Torah?

Why is Tanach so small if we had over 1,200,000 Prophets? What are the differences between Torah, Nevi’im, and Kesuvim Halachically and philosophically?

Why is our Torah both Written and Oral? What is the unique function of the Written Torah? What are the differences between Torah, Nevi’im, and Kesuvim?

A Torah response to the final results of the 2022 midterm elections AHEAD OF TONIGHT’S announcement by President Trump (November 15th, 2022)

The Seven Mitzvos incumbent on all mankind and their relationship to “our Torah” and Moshe Rabbeinu.

Where is the "Red Wave"? A Torah Response to the 2022 Midterm Elections

Our Do-Over Rosh Hashanna - The Torah of the November 8th, 2022 Mid Term Elections

Aligning our personal universe with the Cosmos - what we take away from Yom Kippur

Erev Yom Kippur - preparing for the Great Convergence

What is the Essence of Teshuva? To Unleash the Full Power of Free Will!

Reversing Centuries of Understanding in a Scary Rambam

The Rock of Stability in the Storm - Shabbos Shuva 5783 in wake of Hurricane Ian

Rosh Hashana - The Alignment of Allegiance

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If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.

If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.

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The Voice of Zachor - a tribute to Rush Limbaugh

Guf & Neshama in Parshas Terumah

Guf & Neshama in Parshas Mishpatim

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Click here to download single sided version Click here to download the double sided version (for double sided printing) CHAPTER 1 Shiva Asar B’Tamuz – The Crack Shiva Asar B’Tamuz, the seventeenth of the month of Tamuz, is the beginning of the mourning period we call “The Three Weeks.” This sad time is also known as “Bein Ha’Meitzarim” – ...

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Click here to download single sided version Click here to download the double sided version (for double sided printing) CHAPTER 1 Erev Shavuos: Where the Finite goes Infinite 49 The forty-ninth day of the Omer, Erev Shavuos, is actually more of an impasse than a landmark, as will be discussed. The last day of the Omer must be special. It may ...

Click here to download single sided version Click here to download the double sided version (for double sided printing) Introduction During the 7 weeks of the Sefira we are counting and adding up figures. We don’t say today is the 5th day of the Omer but rather  “today are 5 days of the Omer”.  When we reach “weeks” ...

Click here to download single sided version Click here to download the double sided version (for double sided printing) Chapter 1 Sfiras HaOmer – Preparing the World for Torah Beginning with the second night of Pesach we count forty-nine days until Shavuos. This Torah commandment is known as the mitzvah of Sfiras HaOmer. We will begin our discussion with ...

Click here to download single sided version Click here to download the double sided version (for double sided printing) Author’s Introduction As I am writing this, I cannot help but draw a parallel between our situation today and the very first night of Pesach in our history.  Like the Jews back then who had to stay confined within ...

Words of insight inspiration & Chizuk  

Reflections on Ki-sisa and parshas Parah against the backdrop of the post Purim pandemic

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  Delivered by 7th of Adar seuda to the chevra kadisha of Cincinnati If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

  Delivered in the Cincinnati community KOLLEL If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

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Click here to download PDF Reincarnation The Zohar uses parshas Mishpatim and its monetary laws as a vehicle for its main discourse about ‘gilgulim’—reincarnations. All the commentators struggle to find a common denominator between these extremely disparate concepts. What is the connection between monetary law and all our civil affairs and reincarnation? Justice vs Equality In a non-leap year, ...

Using this Classic work on Jewish law to learn the Laws of Shabbos which every Jew must know and required for the Rabbinical ordinations of Smichas Chaver and Yoreh Yoreh #Shabbat #semichaschaver #semicha #Ravumanhig #chaver #Shabbos #ordination  

Using this classic Halachik work to learn the laws of Kosher every Jew must know and required for “Semicha” – Rabbinical ordination of “Yoreh Yoreh” #semicha #ordination #kashrut #becomearabbi #yorehdeah #kosher  

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s book of principles of Creation, Divine providence, and Divine service. #Luzzatto #philosophy #Kabbalah #faith #reason #Judaism #Torah #Hashkafa #machshava  

Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi’s monumental defense of Judaism against Greek Philosophy Christianity and Islam set in historical context of the conversion of the King of the Khazars to Judaism #Kuzari #Khazar #Khazars #Philosophy #Faith #Judahhalevi #Judaism #Torah #hashkafa #machshava  

Response to recent antisemitic attacks

The Rambam’s (Maiminides’) classic work to resolve Religion and Reason #Maimonides #Rambam #Guide #Faith #Reason #Philosophy #Judaism #Torah #hashkafa #machshava  

Understanding the special meaning of the 8th day of Chanukah and the burning of the leftover oil wicks in one bonfire #machshava #Kabbalah #philosophy #hanukkah #zoschanukah #unity #faith #religion #cosmology #maamar  

Going through Mishna with the Pirush HaMishnayos of the Rambam #Mishna #Maimonides #Brachot #masechet #Talmud #shas

A Maamar covering Parshas Miketz, Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh Teves, & Zos Chanukah #religion #faith #Chanukah #Shabbos #Rosh Chodesh  

Our Oral Law vs the narrative of academia & media

Chanukah 2019 - Personal Experiences of Divine Providence

Chanukah Wars 2019 - Taking the HOUSE back

Chanukah wars 2019 - The fight for family values

Chanukah gelt & the Dreidel - the metaphysics of Capitalism

Intro to Chanukah 2019

Click here to download PDF What’s Lavan doing in the Haggada? In the Hagaddah of Pesach we quote the Pasuk, “Arami Oved Avi vayered Mitzrayma” (Devarim 26:5) which the Baal HaHagaddah explains that Lavan was even worse than Pharaoh. Pharaoh only decreed the extermination of the Jewish males and Lavan wanted to “uproot” the whole .Why ...

 

Click here to download PDF On the Ruins of the flood “And the whole earth was one language and singular/uniform terms. When they traveled from the east they found a valley in the land of Shinar and they settled there”(11:1-2). Why is it necessary to stress that there was only one language? First of all, that is ...

 

עילוי נשמת אמי מורתי שולמית בת הרב דב יהודה ז”ל If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF A Tribute to my Mother Z”L on the occasion of her first Yahrtzeit Twenty Generations of Anger “There were ten generations from Adam until Noah to make us aware how much patience Hashem has as all these generations angered him constantly until (after waiting ten generations) He brought upon them the Waters of ...

Marking the first Yahrtzeit of HaRav Yochanan Bechhofer’s Mother Z”L  

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Click here to download PDF (for single sided printers) Click here to download PDF (double sided) Between Yom Kippur & Succos Forgiven in Thirds To understand the special energy of these days between Yom Kippur and Succos: The midrash Rabbah in parshas Emor (30:7) on the Pasuk “And you will take for Yourselves on the first day a fruit ...

Click here to download PDF (for single sided printers) Click here to download PDF (for double sided printers) ערב יום כיפור General Introduction to Yom Kippur The essence of Yom Kippur is that Hashem created for the Jewish people one day that Teshuva is easily accepted. On this day the sins are easily “erased”, which includes to fix all ...

Click here to download PDF Shabbos & Teshuva To understand the source for Shabbos Shuva, how it is a fundamental landmark in the Aseres Yemei Teshuva, and how it is what empowers Yom Kippur:  The Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 22:28) says that after years had passed, Adam Harishon met up with his son, Kayin.  Adam asked Kayin what ...

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Click here to download PDF (for single sided printers) Click here to download PDF (for double sided printers) FIRST NIGHT OF ROSH HASHANA מעריב The ספר החיים Book of the Living The judgment on Rosh HaShanah is multi-leveled.  First and foremost, we are judged on whether we are    צדיקים– righteous, orרשעים -wicked. To be declared a Tzaddik is ...

Click here to download PDF Eyes for Today? “On this day Hashem your Lord commands you to do all these statutes….” (26:16) Rashi brings from Chazal “this day means that it should be in your eyes as if today you were commanded in these Mitzvos”. This peculiar command to seemingly pretend that we were freshly commanded in ...

 

Click here to download PDF Faulty Weights & Amalek In this week’s Parsha, we have the obligation to maintain only accurate weights and measures and the prohibition to produce or to have inaccurate weights and measures even if they will not be used for commerce (25:13-16). Immediately following these Mitzvos regarding weights and measures, we have the ...

Click here to download PDF City Court The Parsha opens with the Mitzvah to set up Batei Dinim in all the tribes and all the major cities.  It is interesting to note that this strict halacha of a Beis Din in every major city is strictly in the land of Israel.  Whereas, in the Diaspora the obligation ...

Click here to download PDF Special edition marking the conclusion of Kaddish for my Mother Z” L Meat In this week’s Parsha we learn about a drastic change in our personal lives that will go into effect in the land of Israel. In the desert, the kosher animals that can be brought as a “korban Shelamim” had to ...

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Click here to download PDF Affliction & Hunger?!? “And He afflicted you and He starved you and He fed you the “Mann” that you did not know and was unknown to your forefathers in order to make you know that not on bread alone lives the man but rather on what comes out of the mouth of ...

Click here to download PDF How do you add up inactions? “Do not kill” and Do not commit adultery and Do not steal and Do not bear false witness against your neighbor and Do not covet the wife of your neighbor and Do not desire the house of your neighbor, his field and his slave and his ...

Understanding how Churban HaBayis is just as big of a tragedy for the individual as it is for the nation Given at Rabbi Horowitz’s Shul 200 Broadway Lawrence, NY If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.

Click here to download PDF Moshe Yishayahu Yirmiyahu “Eicha” – How can I carry by myself your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels” (1:12).  This Pasuk is traditionally read with an ‘Eicha tune’ as it is always read before Tisha B’Av. Is there an inherent connection?  The Midrash Rabba on Eicha says as follows: “Three prophesized using ...

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Click here to download PDF The Exile – Israel sandwich Parshas Masei is always one of the Parshas we read during the three weeks. It has clear allusions to “Golus”- exile which is the sad state that we actively mourn during this time. It contains the laws of the unintentional murderer who himself must go into exile. ...

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Click here to download PDF Why Delay the inevitable? At the end of this week’s Parsha, we have the Korbanos for “Atzeres”. Rashi brings from the Chazal that “Atzeres” is from the word “atzor”- stop;  That Hashem is telling the Jewish people “after the joyous days of Succos, it is hard for Me to bear your separation, ...

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Click here to download PDF Special expanded edition marking 20th Yahrzeit of my Rebbe, Maran HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Weinberg, ZT”L, the Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel The Three Mouths In this week’s Parsha, we have the account of Bilaam’s donkey speaking, besting him in an argument, and causing him humiliation. The Mishna says in Avos (5:9) that “Pi ha’ason”-the ...

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Click here to download PDF Who cares about a Rock’s parnassah? In this week’s Parsha we have the incident of Moshe hitting the rock as opposed to speaking to it. This is what sealed his fate that he would not take the Jewish people into the land of Israel. Hashem says ”because you did not believe ...

Click here to download PDF Mezuzah & Tzitzis Korach wages a revolution against Moshe. The “cause” is “equality”. His claim is that the whole nation heard at Sinai Hashem speak and reveal himself onto the whole nation as Hashem’s nation and therefore no Jew should be considered “holier” than his fellow Jew. Strangely enough, to advance his ...

Click here to download PDF The crime and the Penalty In  this week’s Parsha, we have the sad story of the spies that slandered the land of Israel. Chazal tell us that this laid the precedent for Tisha b’Av being a day when calamities happen, most particularly the destructions of the two Temples. Hashem  says: “you cried ...

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Click here to download PDF Self-made Menorah? In the third Midrash Rabba of this week’s Parsha, it says, “You find that Moshe found difficulty in making the Menorah more than any other vessels in the Mishkan, to the point that Hashem had to project an image for him….. as the Pasuk says in this week’s Parsha (8:4): ...

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Click here to download PDF Where do we go from here? After the uplifting days of Shavuos, which commemorate the greatest event in history of unmitigated Divine revelation, one has to wonder where do we go from here? How can there be any moving forward or growth after having the greatest experience possible? Ironically, upon the place ...

Click here to download PDF Parshas Bamidbar & Shavuos It is interesting to note that Shavuos always comes out after we read Parshas Bamidbar. This arrangement is ancient and is brought down in the Rambam’s Hilchos Tefillah. It corresponds with the historical event itself.  We always read Parshas Bamidbar within the first week of the month of ...

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Click here to download PDF Wrong Place & Reverse Order “And I will remember my covenant with Yaakov and also my covenant with Yitzchak and also my covenant with Avraham and the land (of Israel) I will remember” (26:42). Why not simply write:… and the covenant of Yitzchak and the Covenant of Avraham? Why the two extra ...

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If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version. My dearest friends, Last night I was in Miron and I had access to the inner cave that’s behind the kitchen area which is the closest you can get to where Rav ...

Click here to download PDF Shmitta & Sinai This week’s Parsha opens with the laws of Shmitta which were said at Har Sinai. Rashi brings the Chazal that says, just like Shmitta was taught in detail at Sinai so also all the Mitzvos were given in detail at Sinai. Why was Shmitta chosen to be the prime ...

Click here to download PDF Purity for all Kohanim Parshas Emor opens up with the special Halachos pertaining to Ahron and his children.  There are the laws of criteria to be fit to do “Avoda” and then there are the laws that are universal to all Kohanim, like the opening Halacha that the Kohanim must avoid contact ...

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Click here to download PDF Rebbe Akiva vs Hillel “And you should love your friend like yourself” Rashi brings from the Toras Kohanim the famous statement of Rebbe Akiva: “This is a ‘KLAL GADOL’– great inclusive principle in Torah”.  What does this mean? If he means to say that this encases the entirety of Torah, then what ...

Click here to download PDF Rashi argues on the Gemara?!? “And You will keep My statutes and my laws that the man will do and live by them….” Rashi says, on the words “And live by them” in Olam Haba for if you say it is Olam Hazeh, he will at the end die. Rashi ...

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Click here to download PDF What is Nirtzah about? The final phase of the Seder is called “Nirtzah” and it’s a very difficult phase to understand. The Seder per se has finished with the mitzvah of Hallel and we already officially closed the Seder with “Chasal Sidur Pesach”. Then comes another phase called “Nirtzah”- desired. The meforshim ...

Click here to download PDF Who goes to who? “These are the laws of the Metzora on the day of his purification and he should be brought before the Kohen. And the Kohen will come out to him outside of the camp….” There’s an obvious contradiction here that is discussed by the commentaries: Who goes to ...

Click here to download PDF The Obvious The Tangent & The Mystery “When a woman will conceive and give birth to a male she will be ‘impure’ for seven days and on the eighth day he shall be circumcised….. and 33 days she’ll have blood of purity….etc.” There are a few questions that arise in these Pesukim. First ...

Click here to download PDF Why 8? “And it was the eighth day…” why is this the eighth day? What is its connection to the seven days prior? During  the seven days of the “Miluim” Moshe Rabbeinu served as the Kohen Gadol in a “white garment with no hem” and the Mishkan was taken apart at the ...

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Click here to download PDF Who called? “And He called to Moshe and Hashem spoke to him from the Ohel Moed…” seemingly it should have read: And Hashem called to Moshe and He spoke to him from Ohel Moed!  Hashem should have been mentioned at the beginning of the sentence, as He’s doing the calling.  Why is ...

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Click here to download PDF Contradiction in Rashi The Gemara (Yevamos 72A) explains that the reason the Jewish people did not do Bris Milah in all the years that they were in the desert is because they did not have a northern wind, because they were in disgrace. Rashi explains that they were in disgrace because of ...

Click here to download PDF The Mirrors & the Memories In this week’s Parsha (38:8) “and he made the “Kiyor” and it’s base out of copper from the mirrors…” Rashi bring the Chazal that Moshe did not want to take these mirrors which the women used to beautify themselves because they are made for the purpose of ...

Click here to download PDF Luchos and Jewish eyes?!? In this week’s Parsha we have the tragedy of the breaking in of the Luchos in response to our sin of the golden calf. It’s one of the reasons we fast on the 17th of Tammuz, however, there is strange flipside to this setback. First of all, Moshe ...

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Click here to download PDF Shovavim – Tat As is well-known, these weeks of Shemos, Vaeira, Bo, Beshalach, Yisro, and Mishpatim have a special quality of Teshuva being readily accepted, particularly the “known sin” of “waste”. For that reason, some communities in Eretz Yisrael run refresher courses in the laws of family purity. There is a dilemma ...

Click here to download PDF Contradiction in Rambam In this week’s Parsha we have the directive to build the Mishkan and subsequently the Beis HaMikdash as the Pasuk says (25:8) “and they will make for me a “Mikdash”-sanctuary and I will dwell within them”. The Rambam brings this Pasuk as the eternal source for the command to ...

Click here to download PDF Mishpatim & Mizbe’ach After the command not to ascend by stairs to the Mizbe’ach at the end of last week’s parsha, we are commanded to bring our civil and monetary disputes before the Jewish Dayanim ONLY. From the juxtaposition of these commands we learn that we are commanded to put the Grand ...

Click here to download PDF Sponsored in Honor of the upcoming Marriage of Miriam Wilamowsky to Binyomin Zonenshayn בשעטו״מ שהזיווג יעלה יפה בבנין עדי עד Seeing Sound Hearing Sights “And the whole nation saw the sounds”(20:14) Rashi brings the Chazal that this is to be read literally they saw sound and they heard sight! There was an amazing sensory ...

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Click here to download PDF Two Hands Towards  the conclusion of ‘Shiras HaYam’ (15:17-18) it says: “You shall bring them and implant them on the mountain of the heritage the place for your dwelling that You made Hashem, the Mikdash, Hashem, is constructed by Your ‘Hands’. Hashem will reign forever.” What is it about the Beis HaMikdash ...

Click here to download PDF Pre-planned Rush?!? In the Haggadah we say that we eat Matzah to commemorate  that Bnei Yisroel’s dough didn’t have time to rise prior to Hashem revealing Himself to them and redeemed them as the pasuk says: “they baked the dough they took out of Egypt as matza….for they were chased out of ...

Click here to download PDF Didn’t we Talk about this? In this week’s Parsha Moshe seemingly raises a concern that he raised already,  and the answer is the same as it was. He raises the concern of being inarticulate, worried that Pharoh will not listen to him. He raises  this twice in this week’s Parsha.  First “….the ...

Click here to download PDF They are rewarded for “Fear”?!? “And The midwives feared Hashem and they did not do as told to them by the king of mitzrayim and they allowed the boys to live”(1:17)…”And because the midwives feared Hashem He made for them houses” (1:21). What’s fear have to do with it? If they did  ...

Click here to download PDF How did Golus start? This week’s Parsha starts without any break separating it from last week’s Parsha. therefore, it’s called a “Parsha Setuma”- a blocked Parsha as there isn’t that traditional space between the Parshas. Rashi addresses the issue and says: “why is this Parsha “Setuma”- blocked? Because Yaakov Avinu passed away ...

Click here to download PDF Why frame Binyomin? In course of the end of last week’s Parsha and the beginning of this week’s Parsha We find that Yosef framed his beloved brother Binyomin with the crime of having stolen his goblet. Why frame Binyomin, his full brother, that he loves so much? One would have thought that ...

Click here to download PDF Special expanded edition for Shabbos – Chanukah Spies! Now and forever Yosef frames his brothers as being spies. Perhaps that was easiest crime to frame them for, given the circumstances. But is that all there is to it? The ‘Baal HaTurim’ writes something fascinating. ”… and he told them you are spies….” explains ...

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Delivered at a Lunch Mesiba at Chosen Island courtesy of the Kutner Brothers If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

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Click here to download PDF He was worried about a Traffic Jam?!? “And Yaakov dwelled…” Rashi brings a Midrash: “This flax dealer came in to town with all his camels laden with flax. The blacksmith wonders where will all this flax will fit. A wise man answered him: ‘one spark comes out from your bellows that ...

Click here to download PDF Eisov makes Drashos?!? Like any good diplomat, Yaakov has a double message for Eisov, a conciliatory even submissive message and a tough one. He says with Lavan “Garti”– I resided. Rashi explains “Garti”- “I resided as a stranger and I was not made nobility or important. It’s not worth your while to ...

Click here to download PDF Only Yaakov leaves an impression? In the beginning of this week’s Parsha Rashi comments on what the Pasuk says: “Yaakov exited Be’er Sheva and went to Charan”: “It would have been enough to just say he went to Charan, why did have to mention his exit? this comes to teach ...

Click here to download PDF Special expanded edition marking the conclusion of Sheloshim for my mother Z”l לע״נ אמי מורתי שולמית בת הרב דב יהודה ז״ל Why didn’t Yitzchak see thru Eisov? Yitzchak had a special affinity for Eisov and had fully intended to give him the special “Brachos” that Yaakov had to get seemingly by trickery. This is ...

Click here to download PDF לע״נ קדושי פיטסברג הי״ד לע״נ אמי מורתי שולמית בת הרב דב יהודה ז״ל Repetition is Beautiful?!? The longest topic in this week’s Parsha is the story of Eliezer going to find Rivka for you Yitzchak. What makes it much larger than any other topic is because Eliezer repeats the whole story play by ...

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Click here to download PDF לע״נ אמי מורתי שולמית בת הרב דוב יהודה ז״ל Why Dayanim? Why sitting? At the beginning of the parsha Avraham Avinu is recovering from Bris Milah and nonetheless sitting at the opening of the tent in the heat of the day, hoping to invite in guests, when Hashem appears to him. Rashi on ...

Click here to download PDF לע״נ אמי מורתי האשה החשובה שולמית בת הרב דוב יהודה ע״ה Bnei Noach Chazal refer to all good non-Jews as Bnei Noach, while evil goyim are tagged as ovdei cochavim u’mazalot, idol worshippers. This might seem strange seeing as how all of mankind, both Jew and gentile alike, are the descendants  of Noach. ...

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Click here to download PDF הדברי תורה בעלון זה מוקדשים לזכות אמי מורתי מרת שולמית בת הרב דב יהודה והרבנית שרה סאשא Bereishis – For the Land of Israel? The first Rashi in the Parsha says as follows: “Rabbi Yitzchak said the Torah did not have to start from any other place than “This month is for you ...

Click here to download PDF Getting support for the Wall On Shabbos of Succos we have an interesting Halacha of “Migu d’havei dofen linyan Shabbos havei dofen linyan Succah –  Migu d’havei dofen linyan Succah havei dofen linyan Shabbos” -although the criteria for a valid “wall” to make it a “Reshus HaYachid”-private domain where one can carry ...

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Click here to download PDF Haazinu – the essence of a sefer Torah The Rambam states (Hilchos sefer Torah 7:1) that the essence of the obligation to write a sefer Torah is actually to write the Parsha of Haazinu but since the Torah is not to be written in a separate parshas therefore we must write the ...

The Avodah of Aseres Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur in general and in a leap year in particular. Dedicated to the Refuah shleima of Shulamis bas Sara Sosha. If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Moshe’s Birthday & Lifespan This week’s Parsha opens up with the day of death of Moshe. He stresses that he completed a hundred twenty years and hence is dying on his birthday. There is great significance to the fact that he is both a hundred twenty years old and dying on his ...

Click here to download PDF Nitzavim & Rosh Hashanah Parshas Nitzavim is always the parsha we read right before Rosh Hashanah, therefore there must be some message Rosh Hashanah in it. Rashi (29:12) Re-works the pesukim based on the midrash and says that the reason why Parshas Nitzavim is right after reading all the curses in partial ...

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Click here to download PDF That’s why we Daven 3 times a day?!? This week’s Parsha opens up with the Mitzva of “Bikurim” – bringing the first of all the seven species that the land of Israel is praised for. impartial say Cove. The Midrash Tanchuma says that Moshe Foresaw with Ruach HaKodesh that the Beis HaMikdash ...

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Click here to download PDF Giving in to the “Yetzer”? This week’s Parsha opens up with the laws of “Yefas To’ar” – the beautiful captive woman that the Jewish Soldier wants to take. This is one of the laws that are hardest to understand philosophically. Rashi (21:11) says: “The Torah did not issue these laws [for any ...

This class is dedicated for the refuah of Sara Sheni Bas Tama Devora. Click here to dedicate a shiur. http://evenshesiya.com/Amalek-Blurring_the_Terms.mp3 If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Our system of Justice and Government Parshas Shoftim is generally the first Parsha in Elul (with the exception of years like this one when Shabbos Parshas Re’eh  is itself Rosh chodesh Elul) and therefore there must be a connection and message for Elul. The topics of this week’s Parsha include our entire ...

Click here to download PDF לע״נ האשה החשובה מרת יענטא בת ר׳ שלמה ז״ל לרפואת ר׳ שלום יהודה בן גנעשא שליט״א בתשח״י Where are the Blessings? The parsha opens (11:26) “See (singular) I place before you (plural) today blessing and curse.” After mentioning that the blessing is for obeying Hashem and the curse if for violating His Will and ...

Click here to download PDF What’s “Eikev”? “And ‘Eikev’-because you will listen….” the Midrash Rabbah says repeatedly that ‘Eikev’ is to be understood as at the ‘end’ – meaning to say at the end of time we will get the reward for listening to Hashem. Why is olam habah referred to as the ‘heel’- end? Rashi takes ...

Click here to download PDF Vaeschanan & Nachamu As we mentioned last week, Parshas Vaeschanan is always “Shabbos Nachamu”. The Rambam in the laws of tefillah specifically states that our custom is to align the “parshas hashavua” so that Vaeschanan comes out after Tisha b’Av,  therefore there must be a connection between the two. what is it? What’s ...

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Click here to download PDF Why before Tisha b’Av? Parshas Devarim is always the parsha  we read before Tisha b’Av. This is already mentioned in the Rambam’s laws of Tefillah (13:2 – the emphasis there is to read V’eschanan after Tisha b’Av which we will discuss next week). If this has been the custom for so long ...

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Click here to download PDF Where is the allusion to the 3 weeks? The parshas of Matos – Massei always come out during the three weeks. The allusions to “Golus”-exile in Massei are quite apparent. The travels of the Jews in the desert laid “groundwork” for travels Jews would have to do in the future. Massei also ...

Click here to download PDF Divine Name in Reverse? After Pinchas was awarded with being a Kohen there is a census of the Jewish people, but this time all the families are mentioned by name before giving the final number of the tribe. The families are mentioned with a prefix and a suffix. the prefix is the ...

Click here to download PDF Special expanded edition marking the 19th Yahrtzeit of my Rebbe Maran Hagaon HaRav Yaakov Wienberg ZT”L Rosh Yeshivas Ner Yisroel לע״נ הגאון מוהר״ר שמואל יעקב ב״ר יצחק מתתיהו זצוקלה״ה Isn’t the difference obvious? The Mishna in Avos (5:25) states: “Anyone who has these three things is a disciple of Avraham Avinu and [if he ...

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Click here to download PDF Eternal Dispute? In this week’s Parsha we have the dispute between Korach and Moshe. The Mishnah in Avos (5:17) says: “Any dispute that is for the sake of the Name of Heaven will endure and any dispute that is not for the say for the sake of the Name of Heaven will ...

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Click here to download PDF Special expanded edition in Honor of the Shabbos Sheva Brachos of Menachem Yisroel & Bracha Golda Bechhofer. The Risk In this week’s Parsha Moshe sends the spies to check out the land of Israel.  Rashi stresses: “Hashem told Moshe send for yourself i.e. by your own judgment (literally “L’Daascha” – by your own ...

Click here to download PDF What’s special about the Menorah At the opening of this week’s Parsha Ahron HaKohen is granted the Mitzvah of the Menorah. Rashi brings the Chazal that notes that this comes on the heels of the inauguration of the Mishkan. Ahron felt sad that neither he nor his tribe of Levi participated ...

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Click here to download PDF The gifts of the Nesi’im In this week’s Parsha we have the ceremony of the inauguration of the Mishkan. Each one of the ‘Nesi’im’ brought gift offerings on behalf his tribe on his designated day. All brought the same set of gifts: a bowl of silver weighing 130 and a basin of ...

Click here to download PDF To Count is to Love? Sefer Bamidbar is known as “Chumash HaPikudim” – The Book of Numbers because it has in it the census of the Jewish people. In the opening of this week’s parsha Moshe is commanded to conduct a census. Rashi (1:1) explains: “because of Hashem’s love for the ...

Delivered at pre-Shavuos program in congregation Ohr Torah in Silver springs Maryland. If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Delivered at pre-Shavuos  program at congregation Ohr Torah  Silver Springs Maryland If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

A tribute to the Ramchal and his legacy If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Off by a week? This week is a double Parsha so as to fulfill the Halacha recorded in the Gemara (Megilla 31b): “Ezra instituted for the Jewish people to read the curses in Vayikra before Shavuos and the curses in Devarim before Rosh Hashanah so that ‘the year should end with all ...

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Click here to download PDF Speech and Purity The Parsha opens (21:1):”Hashem told Moshe: “Emor”-Say to the kohanim the children of Ahron and you shall say to them that they should not become impure from contact with a dead body….” the Midrash Rabbah is fascinated by the term “Emor” (say) and uses it as a springboard to ...

Delivered Lag B’Omer night, 2018 at Seidenmann residence. If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Yom Kippur Mincha?!? This week’s double parsha opens up with the sacrificial order of Yom Kippur and apropos that it is the leining for Yom Kippur morning. However for Mincha on Yom Kippur we read from the end of the Parsha where it talks about all the laws of forbidden relationships. Why ...

Click here to download PDF Why Bris Milah? In this week’s double Parsha we have all the laws of human impurity which include the impurity of birth, Ziva, Tzaraas of the person, clothes, and houses, and how to purify all those impurities. There’s a strange break in the continuity. After saying that a woman who gives ...

Click here to download PDF The Mishkan & Kashrus? In this week’s Parsha there is a strange combination of topics. The Parsha opens with the final establishment of the Mishkan. It was to be assembled and never taken down until the Jewish people would be commanded to relocate and the Kehunah passed to our Ahron and his ...

Click here to download PDF What Happened? Shabbos HaGadol could be translated literally as “The Big Shabbos.” What’s so BIG about Shabbos HaGadol? The Tur tells us that Shabbos HaGadol commemorates how on the tenth of Nissan the Jews in Egypt had a one time commandment of designating a lamb in preparation for the first korban Pesach. ...

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Click here to download PDF Our timing is off? It’s ironic that just as we finish reading Sefer Shmos, the book of Yetzias Mitzrayim, in comes the month of Nissan and the holiday of Pesach. One would think that we should have arranged the annual cycle so that we would read the parshas of Shmos during the ...

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Click here to download PDF Why the Assembly? Moshe, having just having come back from Heaven with the second Luchos, gathers all the Jewish people and tells them the prohibition to work during Shabbos. Following that he tells them the positive commandment of building the Mishkan as was outlined for him in Heaven in parshos Trumah, Titzavah ...

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Haman and Achashveirosh’s plot to supplant Yerushalayim If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Sponsored in Honor of the engagement of Menachem Yisroel Bechhofer & Bracha Golda Lichtman Why always Titzaveh – Zachor? In every regular (non-leap) year we read Parshas Titzaveh right before  Purim. Therefore, in every regular year it has the supplemental reading of “Zachor” which commands us to remember Amalek’s atrocities towards us and ...

Click here to download PDF Why leave it up to us? In this week’s Parsha the Jewish people as a collective are commanded to construct the Mishkan. Hashem left it up to everyone’s own benevolence to donate whatever they want of the 13 items required for the Mishkan’s construction. Why was it done this way? Leaving it ...

Click here to download PDF The Two accounts of Matan Torah In this week’s Parsha we find a whole other account of Matan Torah from a different perspective. It looks more like a festive occasion, accompanied by eating and drinking, contrary to the experience of awe and fear depicted in last week’s Parsha. What is the message ...

Click here to download PDF Never Gets Old The Posuk says: ”on the third month of B’nai Yisroel leaving Egypt on this day they came to the Sinai desert” Rashi explains: “it should have said on that day they arrived at the desert of Sinai, why does it say on this day? That the words of Torah ...

Reflections on the state of the union address and the Jewish New year for Trees

Delivered on Leil Tu B’Shvat 5778 If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Delivered 1/25/18 in the Young Israel of Long Beach Liluy Nishmas Dovid ben Reuven Michoel z”l If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Think Before you sing? Az Yashir Moshe – Then will sing (yashir) Moshe. It that should say “then sang (shar) Moshe”! Why is there the extra letter “Yud” that makes it the future tense? Rashi explains: then, when Moshe saw the miracle it occurred in his heart to sing. Rashi cites further ...

Click here to download PDF 7 & 3 The first thing to observe, is that the Torah saw fit to separate the 10 plagues into two different Parshiyos.  Seven out of ten appear in last week’s Parsha, Parshas Veyeira and three out of ten are in this week’s Parsha. Every Parsha represents a whole different lesson from ...

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Click here to download PDF Trustworthy to Reward and Punish Hashem tells Moshe: “I appeared to Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov with as E-l Sha-dai and my Name Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh was not displayed to them”.  Rashi explains that means: I am trustworthy to bestow good reward to those who follow in my commandments and I am now sending you ...

Delivered last night on the occasion of Sheva Brachos of Reuven Zak’s niece If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Names & Numbers This week’s Parsha opens with the words “And these are the names of the children of Yisroel that came to Mitzrayim…” Rashi comments even though they were counted in their lifetime by name (in parshas Vayigash) the Torah counts them even after their death to show how beloved they ...

A Special Message for 2018

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Click here to download PDF Dead or Alive? This week’s Parsha opens up with the posuk “Yaakov was alive in Egypt for 17 years…” Hebrew doesn’t use the term “lived” as a synonym for “resided”. What is the Torah telling us? Was Yaakov more alive in Egypt than anywhere he resided? The Midrash Rabbah says that Rav ...

A maamar on Vayechi-Asara B’Teves & Tribute to my Rebbe HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shapira ZT”L on occasion of his 1st Yahrtzeit. If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Crying on the “Neck” Following the reunification of the brothers it says that “Yosef cried on the necks (plural!) of Binyomin and Binyomin cried on Yosef’s neck”. Rashi brings the Chazal that raise the question: how many necks did Binyomin have? They answer that it was referring to two Temples that ...

Understanding what the Greeks had against Kiddush Hachodesh If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Click here to download PDF Reflections for the Chanukah after the Petirah of the Godol HaDor Maran HaRav Ahron Yehuda Leib Shteinman ZT”L “Sparks” An interesting phenomenon repeats itself no less than four times in this week’s Parsha. Ever since the Shevatim sold Yosef, Yaakov Avinu is stripped of prophecy. However, in this week’s Parsha prophecy makes a gradual ...

Understanding why the Greeks hated Bris Milah and the special significance of ‘Zos Chanukah’ If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

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Reflections on the passing of Rav Shteinman Chanukah and current global situation

Reflections on Shabbos and Jerusalem - inspired by President Trump's bold declaration

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Click here to download PDF Mysterious Metaphor In the opening Rashi to this week’s Parsha, Rashi tells us that after speaking concisely about Eisav’s descendants and how and where they settled, the Torah now turns to discuss Yaakov and his children at length and in great detail. Yaakov and his children are so important to Hashem and ...

Delivered at the home of Mrs. Vivian Wein 12/3/17 If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

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Click here to download PDF Trouble Town In this week’s Parsha we encounter the place called Shechem.  Rashi tells that Shechem is a place prone to tragedy. It was there that Dinah was raped, it was there that Yosef was sold, and it was there the Kingdom of Israel split off from the kingdom of Yehudah. What ...

Vayetzei : A Tale of Two Mothers and Two Kings Click here to download PDF Rachel vs Leah In this week’s Parsha we have story of Yaakov finding his two wives, our matriarchs, Rachel and Leah. Although they came from the same home, they became Yaakov’s wives in very different ways. Rachel was the wife he was seeking, ...

From Succos to Chanukah - Reflections on Thanksgiving

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Click here to download PDF Water fight? Not quite…. In this week’s Parsha we have Yitzchak Avinu’s struggle with Avimelech and his people over Wells. interestingly enough, this was a common struggle he and his father Avraham had with Avimelech. Seemingly Avraham Avinu and Avimelech patched things up at the time. However, we see from this week’s ...

Click here to download PDF First Funeral? There are some standard daily and life cycle events that occur in this parsha for the first time in the Torah. With the description of Sarah’s burial and eulogy we have the first accounts of a death, burial, and eulogy.  Up until this point the Torah simply stated the age ...

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What do the birth of Yitzchak Avinu, the three cardinal sins,and marital relations all have in common? Click here to download PDF When Sarah receives the amazing news that she will give birth to a son at the ripe old age of ninety she reacts with tzchok, laughter. We find that when Avraham Avinu had a similar ...

HITLER WON! (I'll explain, hear me out)

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Noach - Noach and Avraham Avinu - Movement vs Progress

Click here to download PDF If ever the question should ever be raised what was the most amazing era of Avraham Avinu’s life I’m sure most people, if not all, would answer: How at a young age he figured out the truth for himself, stood up against his family, his society, and the whole world. He ...

Noach - History Repeating Itself

Click here to download PDF A warning from the generations of the flood and the dispersal The Halacha States that when two people agree on a sale of a movable object and the prospective buyer has already given the money, the sale is not final until the movable object has been lifted or pulled. Nonetheless if one ...

Parshas Breishis and the current events of October 2017

Hoshana Rabba - Can't get to 8 before you go through 7

Our eyes - a message for Simchas Torah

Delivered Leill Hoshana Rabbah 5778 in the White Shul If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

Delivered at a SIMCHAS Beis Hashoeva lavishly hosted by our Chaver Reb Shai SASSON If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

   

The Amnesty Between Yom Kippur and Sukkot

If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.  

If you’re viewing this on a portable device, such as a phone, and are having difficulty playing the shiur, then try the below YouTube version.