Hagaon Rav Baruch Epstein zt”l on Parshat Vaeira
(from Torah Temima on Shemot 6:26) Is Aaron Really Equal to Moshe? “This is the same Aaron and Moshe to whom G-d told, ‘Take the Jewish people, all of their hosts, out of Egypt.’” (Shemot 6:26) The Tosefta at the end of Masekhet Keritot asks: Why does Aaron precede Moshe in this verse, whereas Moshe […]
Hagaon Rav Gedalya Shor zt”l on Parshat Shemot
(from Or Gedalyahu, Parshat Shemot, p. 19) Moshe’s Name: The Inner Meaning What is the significance of the name “Moshe”? The Torah itself (Shemot 2:10) gives the basic answer, “For I (Pharaoh’s daughter) drew him out of the water.” The Maharal brings out the inner significance of this expression. Water embodies physicality (the medieval Hebrew […]
Hagaon Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib of Gur zt”l on Parshat Vayechi
(from Sfat Emet on the Torah) The Humble Lion The blessing of Yehuda includes the following verse: Yehuda crouches down and lies like a lion (Bereishit 49:9). What is the greatness of lying down like a lion? Since the Jewish people are referred to as “Yehudim,” (for example, in Megillat Esther), our explanation applies to […]
Hagaon Rav Yisrael Meir Hakohen of Radin zt”l on Parshat Vayigash
(from Chofetz Chayim on the Torah) I am Yosef “Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef.’” (Bereishit 45:3) All of the time the brothers were trying to buy wheat and went through the ordeal of being accused as spies by the Egyptian viceroy, they were asking themselves and each other many questions. There was […]
Parshat Mikeitz – Pharaoh’s Dream
by Rabbi Yehuda Schnall Pharaoh, we are told at the beginning of Parshat Miketz, rejects his wise mens’ interpretations of his dreams – seven fat and full cows and ears of corn followed by seven lean ones. The Torah uses the expression, “No one could interpret the dream for Pharoah: V’ein Poter Otam LePharaoh” (Bereishit […]
Hagaon Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk zt”l on Parshat Mikeitz
(from Meshech Chokhma on the Torah) Yosef’s Unique Education Divine Providence is a central theme in the Torah’s Yosef stories. The process of the Jews’ coming down to Egypt (already foretold to Avraham in Parshat Lech Lecha) develops through the drama of Yosef and his brothers, the famine, and Yosef’s rise to the highest levels […]
Hagaon Rav Yerucham Leibovitz zt”l on Parshat Vayeishev
(from Daas Torah on Bereishit) “Who Needs Struggles?” Our parsha begins with Yaakov innocuously, “living in the land of his fathers’ sojourning,” but Rashi makes an critical comment. “Yaakov wanted to live serenely (b’shalva), but the tumultuous Yosef episode (“rogzo shel Yosef”) jumped up at him. Tzadikim want to live with serenity. The Holy One, […]
Parshat Vayishlach: Giving Esav a Second Chance
by Rabbi Francis Nataf I. Introduction The opening narrative of Parshat Vayishlach recounts the dramatic reunion of Yitzchak’s two sons. Yakov’s fear and apprehension give way to cautious relief as his brother is successfully appeased. Moreover, Esav seems to cave in to brotherly sentiment towards the very same Yakov he had previously marked for bloody […]
Hagaon Rav Shalom Noach Brozofsky zt”l on Parshat Vayishlach
(from Netivot Shalom) Yaakov and Yisrael & Eisav and Lavan Even after his name is changed to Yisrael, Yaakov’s original name is retained, and he is called Yaakov and Yisrael throughout the Torah. As opposed to Avraham and Sarah, whose earlier names Avram and Sarai are dropped totally, Yaakov and Yisrael coexist, referring to two […]
Hagaon Rav Yaakov Wolf Kranz zt”l on Parshat Vayeitzei
from Mishlei Yaakov on the Torah — The Dubno Maggid, zt”l [1740-1804] “What About Yaakov’s Parnassa?” There is a slight inconsistency between G-d’s promise to Yaakov in his dream and Yaakov’s vow to G-d the morning after. G-d says: I will be with you; I will watch over you wherever you go; I will return […]
