יום ראשון, ה׳ אב תשפ״וSunday, July 19, 2026
Follow Us
Rabbi Joshua Rapps attended the Rav's shiur at RIETS from 1977 through 1981 and is a musmach of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan. He and his wife Tzipporah live in Edison, N.J. Rabbi Rapps can be contacted at ravtorah1@gmail.com.
Read More
The obligation to perform Mitzvot is a fundamental enabler for the Divine Countenance in this world. Shechina was never removed from the nations of the world, for otherwise the world could not exist.
Rashi interprets the word “Ki” as "even though,” or "despite" (similar to the use of “Ki Karov Hu,” specifying that G-d did not lead the Jewish people through the land of the Philistines even though it was closer).
The concept of mourning is predicated on the idea that man inevitably forgets over time, diminishing the acute pain associated with the loss, allowing the mourner to move on.
Moses’ mission to convey the terms of redemption to the people also meets with disaster.
He had always thought of Rothschild as a French citizen first and foremost.
Ramban says the Patriarchs were considered to be Jews, meaning they kept the Torah and all its Commandments, while living in the Land of Canaan.
Payment on the covenant began that fateful day Jacob sent Joseph from the valley of Hebron to search for his brothers.
Perhaps this fulfilled the first dream, regarding Joseph’s economic domination of his brothers. However, it did not fulfill the second dream.
Jewish history is the story of exile. Jacob blazed the trail for the Jews in exile.
What did Jacob mean when he realized the sanctity of the place he slept and declared it to be the House of G-d, Beit Elokim?
After Abraham verified that Rebecca was indeed a worthy wife for Isaac, the Torah says, “vayiten Avraham lYitzchak,” Abraham transferred the tradition to Isaac.
Preparation for prayer must be commensurate with the type of prayer offered.
Perhaps G-d’s approval of Abraham's emphasis of kavod habriyot can be found in the subsequent verses (Genesis 18:19).
Circumcision and the Sabbath/Festivals are both classified as otot (signs) of our relationship with G-d.
Unfortunately, the new world that Adam attempted to start through Seth became corrupted.
Apparently, the perseverance demonstrated in multiple attempts at creating an acceptable world is an example of an important characteristic of Hashem that man must emulate, based on the precept of V’Halachta B’Drachav
Judaism stipulates that not only does Hashem reveal Himself to the prophets, but to all creation.
The common theme between these two situations is that they are defined as acts of Kabbalat Ol Malchut Shamayim, accepting the yoke of Heaven.
Rambam says that when the sinner approaches Hashem he expresses Chatati Aviti Pashati; I think I am Mayzid but perhaps I acted B’Shogeg.
The second covenant between Abraham and Hashem included the obligation to observe the commandments.
Baruch means either blessed should be God, or praised should be God.
Sanctions and indictment of the Jew, holding him to a higher standard, is as common and misplaced as ever.
The articles in this column are transcriptions and adaptations of shiurim by Rav Joseph Ber Soloveitchik, zt"l. The Rav's unique perspective on Chumash permeated many of the shiurim and lectures he presented at various venues over a 40-plus-year period. His words add an important perspective that makes the Chumash in particular, and our tradition in general, […]
Like the he-goat and the Temples, it is a guarantor for the Jewish People, to accept punishment on their behalf.
At the end of his exhausting second 40 day effort, again without food or water, Moshe was rewarded with a command to hew new tablets, as Hashem accepted his petition and forgave them.
Perhaps the admonition here is that we should not trivialize the events of the past by saying that they are irrelevant to the modern Jew.
The word “shavat” in the first kina of Tisha B’Av morning indicates a sudden suspension and cessation of time that accompanied the Temple's destruction.
There are certain restrictions and abstentions that apply to Tisha B’Av that do not apply to regular aveilus.
Not everybody’s greatness is readily apparent. Am mkadhsei shvi’i refers to the masses, the less notable among us, who exhibit the hidden, Rosh Chodesh type of sanctity.
Attempts to interpret the message of Hashem in the absence of divine prophecy ultimately may twist that message in unintended ways that can lead to calamitous events.
The greatest of men, Moshe, had to wait for Hashem to sprinkle purifying waters on Bnei Yisrael to mark the conclusion of the period of death.
Until Korach's rebellion, no one dared challenge Moshe’s authority.
Why did the Torah add baderch btzayschem M'mitzrayim to the command to remember the Miriam incident?
Moshe realized that the halt to their march will have major repercussions. The body that had been so carefully assembled, with a single purpose and goal, began to fray.
Why was Samson singled out as the only Shofet required to be a nazir from cradle to grave?
In Parshas Pinchas the Torah introduces the Mussaf for Shavuos by describing it as Yom HaBikurim when we bring the new offering.
There are no enemies confronting us, there are no terrorists to threaten us, and we can clearly see Hashem’s direction and guardianship of the land.
Abraham was held in the highest regard by the nations of the world.
Morah for a parent is connected to shemiras Shabbos because the Shechina shines on, and through, the Sabbath.
He feared the people would have a change of heart and support Rechavam.
Each of the unique roles attributed to Moshe share the common theme that they require of and grant higher sanctity to the individual filling the role.
The Torah commands we remember and not to forget we accepted Torah and became the chosen nation at Mount Sinai (Devarim 8:18).
Prayer is another area where we distinguish between kiyum hamitzvah and maaseh mitzvah.
Yachatz is not mentioned in the Gemara. What is the foundation for yachatz?
Judaism was so democratic that not only did it reject familial and economic aristocracy, it rejected intellectual aristocracy as well. We have many laws to honor Torah scholars.
When Hashem told Moshe of the option to destroy the people and make him and his descendants into a great nation, Hashem was telling Moshe that it is up to him.
This was a spontaneous act of rest after the miracle of vanquishing their respective foes. The following year they celebrated on the same days as a minhag.
Man feels vulnerable, exposed, even when he considers himself a great being.
Perhaps Hillel based his opinion on the original conversion that took place at Mount Sinai and described in Mishpatim.
Halachah is not bound to one geographical location. It is obligatory all over the world.
When a miracle occurs that transcends nature, Hashem has broken the laws of nature to create the miracle.
Property ownership is an extremely important and fundamental right and principle according to the Torah.
The American Jew has forgotten his history. Not the simple stories of life in Europe. Rather, he lost the ability to relive time as part of his own I-awareness, that the past is a relevant part of me.
You are up to the task of being the emissary of Hashem, if you choose to. However, the choice is yours.
Each individual has a unique set of qualities and skills. Some have more abilities and some less.
The first requirement is a king must admit when he is wrong.
If Chanukah was simply a commemoration of the miracle of the oil and Menorah, we would be hard pressed to see the connection between the reading from Parshas Nesiim and Chanukah.
Jacob was well aware that the brothers hated Joseph, yet he sent him to them anyway.
He knew that the way to potentially mollify Esau was to insist that he accept his gift, which he finally did.
The Jew, from the perspective of the name Yaakov, is dependent on the non-Jewish world. This can be seen today in the relationship between the State of Israel and the United States
Ramban interprets Korban as self-sacrifice, each Jew should attempt to recreate Akeidas Yitzchak.
This complementary nature and unified destiny is the basis of the Covenantal Community.
If I appoint someone as Shatz, he is supposed to pray for me, as if I was praying.
Bris Bein Habesarim affirmed that Hashem gave the land to Avraham’s children. It does not specify for how long. It did not guarantee the Jewish people eternal ownership of the land
Shem realized that he owed his existence to his father who brought him into the world.
What right do I, sinner, have to approach Hashem and request forgiveness?
To choose life, you must examine your actions in the period preceding the Days of Awe as an unbiased stranger, and render your decision.
In Parshas Re’eh the Torah tells us about the bechira to adhere to the commandments of Hashem and refrain from sin. In Parshas Nitzavim, the Torah tells us that we have the choice to repent after we have sinned.
According to Ibn Ezra, the Torah was stressing through this covenant that hypocrisy was forbidden.
The inability of creation to violate Hashem’s natural law extends to inanimate object such as heaven and earth.
If there is a mitzvas minuy dayanim in the Diaspora, then why is there a difference between Israel and the Diaspora in the number of judges and their distribution?
The first prayer of Moshe was Vayechal, where Moshe's petition was that no matter how bad bnei Yisrael were, the Egyptians were worse.
Moshe served dual major roles for bnei Yisrael. He was their teacher and their leader.
Moshe’s punishment described in the parsha is most tragic. He was chosen to redeem the people, he loved them dearly and personally sacrificed so much for them.
Scientific disciplines don’t ask "why", a metaphysical question. They ask "how does it function?”
While Moshe was the most unique prophet, he was also alone.
The multitudes among them experienced a desire for meat and wept.
The Shulchan Aruch notes that a priest who is in mourning for one of the seven close relatives does not bless the people during the Shiva period.
Without Joseph laying the foundation for them in Egypt, they never would have survived the exile spiritually intact.
Why distinguish between parts of the Torah to say that this part came from pi Hagevurah while the other part came from pi Moshe?
Offering korbanos is not a substitute to living a proper life.
Chazal recognized the importance of recording events for subsequent generations to identify with, understand and appreciate what moved the author so many years before.
Man has two possible extremes. If he is worthy, he transcends the rest of creation. However, if he is not worthy he is lower than the mosquito that was created before him.
That second verse in Vayikra (9:23) tells us that Moshe and Aharon entered the Ohel Moed, and upon exiting they jointly blessed the people.
Chazal tell us that Moshe functioned in many different capacities. For example, at various times he was considered a king and the equivalent of the Sanhedrin. He was also a kohen gadol, as evidenced by his role during this seven day period.
Besides the lack of appreciation and understanding on the part of knesset Yisrael, Sefer Vayikra has been derided and held in contempt by the nations of the world and other religions.
The Torah says (Exodus, chapter 28) several times v’nasa Aharon, Aharon was commanded to carry the responsibility of bnei Yisrael, represented by his wearing these garments. This was his masa, the koved, the heavy responsibility of being the intermediary between Hashem and the people. It is a difficult task indeed.
The difference between the intellectual and emotional approach to performing a mitzvah is most noticeable when analyzing the different approaches to giving charity. A person can readily comprehend and accept the intellectual rationale behind giving charity to the poor.
The Gemara says that Moshe lost his ability to pray and protest when he was ordered to descend. The Gemara uses the parable of the friend of the king to indicate that Moshe realized that Hashem provided him, despite his diminished status, with an opening and an opportunity to pray on their behalf to prevent their annihilation.
The Gemara mentions that the grape clusters refer to Moshe and Aharon, the paradigm of what a Jew can be.
The notion of a Temple, as either a temporary dwelling or as a permanent building at a specific site, is inherently difficult to understand. How can Hashem, the paradigm of perfect sanctity, coexist with our mundane, flawed universe? Infinity with the finite?
July 17, 2026 
