December 3, 2022; 9 Kisleiv, 5783
Parsha
The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 68:2) tells us that Yaakov Avinu, when he left Be’er Sheva to head to Lavan’s house in Charan, recited Tehillim (Psalms) 121.
[Note: The italics that follow are the Midrashic commentary on the Tehillim that Yaakov recited]:
“I will lift my eyes up to the mountains” – to those who instructed me and conceived me...
November 26, 2022; 2 Kisleiv, 5783
Parsha
What caused Yaakov to become Yaakov Avinu (our holy forefather), and Eisav to become Eisav HaRasha (the evil one)? The Midrash (Beraishis Rabbah, Parshas Toldos) tells us that until their Bar Mitzvah, Yaakov and Eisav were nearly identical in their deportment. However, after their bar mitzvah, things started to change. How did Yaakov and Eisav turn out so differently?
Rav Dov Meir Rovman ZT”L (1895-1967) was a student of the Kelm Yeshiva, the Rosh Yeshiva in Vilkomir and the founder of the Tiferes Yisroel Yeshiva in Haifa. In his Sefer, Zichron Meir (Maamar 37), he points out that from the Passuk in Malachi (1:2) which states, “Behold Eisav is a brother to Yaakov” we see that Eisav was comparable to Yaakov in certain respects and had remarkable qualities...
November 19, 2022; 25 Cheshvan, 5783
Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, Ephron tells Avraham Avinu, “…I have given you the field, and the cave that is in it… Before the eyes of my people, I have given it to you; bury your dead.” (Bereishis 23:11)
The words “Before the eyes of my people” are rather perplexing. What message is Ephron trying to convey with these words? We may also ask another question. Five Passukim later, when Avrohom weighs out the talents of silver to Ephron the Passuk spells Ephron’s name without a “vov”. Why is his name spelled deficiently?...
