The Fascinating Symmetry of the Sanctuary
A Synergetic Triangle The menorah was placed on the south side of the Sanctuary directly across from the table of the showbread on the north side. The Holy of Holies housing the ark was on the west side. These three vessels form a triangle, with the ark as the singular point and the menorah and […]
Powerful Statement We Will Do and We Will Hear
We Will Do and We Will Hear At the end of Mishpatim, the process of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai is revisited, including the crucial declaration: “we will do and we will hear” (Exodus 24:7). This statement is quoted throughout the ages in Jewish texts as the epitome of the people’s willingness to fulfill […]
Bless Us With Our Portion In The Torah
Our Portion in the Torah As part of the Amidah prayer which we recite three times on Shabbat, we request from God to “grant us our portion [chelkeinu] in the Torah.” According to the Talmud there are 70 faces of the Torah. The Arizal posited that there were 600,000 faces to the Torah, one for […]
The Service of God in the Spirit of Spontaneity
Until We Arrive There After the plague of locusts, the eighth of the ten plagues, negotiations began: “Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, ‘Go! Worship God, but your flocks and your cattle shall be left. Your young children may also go with you.’ But Moses said, ‘You too shall give sacrifices and burnt offerings into our […]
The inner conflict within the Kiss of Esau
The Kiss of Esau When Jacob left home, his brother Esau wanted to kill him fortaking the blessing of their father, Isaac, as discussed above. Yearslater when they finally meet – the night after Jacob wrestles withthe angel – the Torah describes the meeting: “Esau ran towardshim [Jacob], embraced him, fell upon his neck, and […]
Watch Amazing Parshat Toldot Videos
Pathways Through the Orchard The Torah portion of Toldot begins by discussing Yitzhak praying for his wife to be able to bare children. Based on the text, we explore the idea that God was also praying. This concept is actually found in the Talmud and arouses deep questions and ideas. We further discuss Yitzchak’s attachment […]
Amazing Relationship in the Parsha Between Lines and Circles
Juxtapositions From time immemorial commentators have wondered about the juxtaposition of the contents in many Torah portions. Some portions follow entirely logical arrangements, whether chronological, if a story is being told, or thematic, if particular laws are being taught; however, many other portions consist of a wide range of material with no obvious connection. Rashi […]
Amazing Insight into the Seven Crowns in the Name Yisrael
Seven Crowns When Jacob begins his journey to Egypt after being informed that Joseph is still alive, God comes to him in a night vision and addresses him as Yisrael (Genesis 46:2). The Ba’al HaTurim points out that there is a tradition that the letter shin of Yisrael (ישראל) has seven crowns instead of the […]
Two Fascinating Perspectives of the Word Brokenness
Two Perspectives of Brokenness As will be explained shortly, there is a deep allusion in Mikeitz to a fundamental teaching in Kabbalah. The catastrophic, cosmological event termed “the shattering of the vessels” occurred, according to the Arizal, when the initial lights of creation shattered the still immature vessels of creation. Yet, one should not imagine […]
Embracing Challenges in Your Life While Maintaining Inner Tranquility
The Search for Tranquility “And Jacob dwelt in the land in which his father had dwelt, in the Land of Canaan” (Genesis 37:1). Rashi’s comments on this verse taken from the Midrash are both unsettling and profound: “Jacob sought to settle in tranquility but the incident of Joseph thrust itself upon him. The righteous seek […]