יום שישי, י״ב חשוון תשפ״זFriday, October 23, 2026
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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.
In holy places it's important to maintain a level of silence permitting people to dialogue with God
How the 3 partitions of the mishkan each relate to a layer of creation, aiding our connection to God
What about the Temple service required God to intervene commanding Aaron what he needed to wear?
An open miracle occurred before our very eyes… the scheduled demonstration turned into a resounding celebration.
The keruvim, or cherubs, appear in the tabernacle in three different places. What is their meaning?
While it may appear that man is in charge, Hashem orchestrates every activity on the planet
Man feels vulnerable, exposed, even when he considers himself a great being.
The Aruch Laner asks: How can Rashi say that the third Beis Hamikdash will descend as fire from heaven when every Jew prays several times a day for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash?
The notion of duality is paradoxically a very important part of God’s unity.
The Torah presents us with a model of how to effect change in a sustainable way.
Just having basic emunah during these times of great spiritual challenges is inestimable in Hashem's eyes.
The month of Adar is the month of joy. It’s the time when we reaccepted the Torah.
Judaism's moral law, intended to give meaning to life, is violated most when the weak are abused
Hashem placed this world at man’s disposal. In a real sense, man is the steward of Creation.
Perhaps Hillel based his opinion on the original conversion that took place at Mount Sinai and described in Mishpatim.
The Ohr Hachayim rules that one may not manipulate the system; rather he must state his opinion as he see the ruling in the case; not as he would like the outcome of the verdict to become.
A 3rd option: No demarcation between bein adam laMakom & bein adam lechaveiro; they're complementary
Be Forewarned: Rabbi Fohrman on our forefathers and foremothers forming the law.
"Hamas" means "violent," via undue human pressure on a process not meant to be controlled by humans
Matan Torah is when, as Rashi puts it, Heavens and Heavens of Heavens came down to earth, when Hashem revealed himself “panim el panim, face to face” to forge an intimate connection with His chosen people, and through them the entire world.
He suggests that the general admonition only dictates that a father may not actively enable his son to perform an aveirah.
The truth is that a mitzvah may not be the result of belief but rather the means to come to believe.
Halachah is not bound to one geographical location. It is obligatory all over the world.
Connecting the Ten Commandments to the story of Moses and the Burning Bush.
He is fully aware that who he will be for eternity is in his hands.
Shemot relates the transition from the story of one family-Yaakov’s-to the story of a nation-Israel
People often think that all they are missing is "just a little more" and then they can be truly happy.
The Midrash is teaching a fundamental message of what it means to be a religious person.
"Where is God?" asked the Kotzker Rebbe "God is not everywhere but only where you let Him enter"
When a miracle occurs that transcends nature, Hashem has broken the laws of nature to create the miracle.
Rather than submit to this fate and suffer torture and humiliation, Shaul decided to fall on his sword.
How can the Da’as Zekeinim say this was Hashem’s plan to allow them to become the Torah Nation? We know it was actually a punishment.
A strange midrash of fruit trees surrounding the Nation of Israel as they walked to freedom
Leading by example must be visible, regarding where, when and how-like Nachshon entering the Red Sea
Rabbi Yaakov Nagen, a Ram at Yeshivat Otniel, notes that the verse is suggesting that retelling the story of the Exodus is so important that Hashem is performing ever-greater miracles specifically so that parents can tell their stories to future generations.
Before performing the 10th plague God makes a fundamental argument about the ultimate nature of justice.
How is it possible that the clothing was more valuable to them than gold or silver?
Property ownership is an extremely important and fundamental right and principle according to the Torah.
And if a person can take steps to perform the mitzvah, he should do so (even if he won’t be held accountable for not performing it due to circumstances beyond his control).
Pesach is called "zikaron," a Biblical term used describing an object eliciting a certain memory
Recouping $ and assets from Germans and Swiss for their Holocaust actions is rooted in the Exodus
Three years of war and the loss of one-tenth of Britain's men is not too great a price to pay.
"I put to death and I bring to life, I strike down and I will heal."
It is exactly like that of an animal, with all of the passions and desires necessary to drive man though his daily existence.
The Brisker Rav suggests that the barad, in fact, only fell on people, animals, and vegetation.
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.
The plagues don't reveal a God of vengeance but of compassion; after each triplet Egypt can repent
Rabbi Fohrman asks about an interesting name of God and leads a whirlwind tour of modern cosmology
Moshe viewed his speech impediment as part of his core identity and his intrinsic human imperfection
By Joseph Cox
But a rally has no effect on the terrorists themselves. In truth, it validates what they have done.
The midwifes rejecting Pharoah's command is the first recorded incident of civil disobedience
You know that you are strangers in a foreign land. You recognize that you stem from a different culture.
In reality, there is no such thing as an unimportant detail, an unimportant mitzvah.
Why is it necessary to perform an aveirah punishable by lashes in order to be deemed a legal rashah and be pasul l’eidus m’d’Oraisa?
You are up to the task of being the emissary of Hashem, if you choose to. However, the choice is yours.
How did their hatred toward the Jews make their own lives disgusting? It’s the Jews they hated, not themselves.
"He looked this way and that way" means Moses looked within to see whether he was Egyptian or Jewish
God wants man to maximize benefit from Creation only in ways that don’t compromise spiritual health
Rabbi Fohrman explores a midrash about God's names in this week's parsha
Each individual has a unique set of qualities and skills. Some have more abilities and some less.
When Hashem made man, He created two worlds – this world and the World to Come. Each has its purpose.
Why was Yaakov not afraid that granting Yosef’s sons the status of shevatim would cause jealousy among his children?
Rabbi Fohrman addresses the question, "Do we ever feel God's tap on our shoulder?"
When Yaakov asks "Who are these?" he's means “Do my grandchildren identify as Egyptians or Jews?”
Yaakov's blessings to his sons stand as a solution to their particular issues with relationships
By Joseph Cox
Slavery was universal; So, why was Egypt targeted in this object lesson?
Rav Akiva Eiger is assuming that the logic of the halacha that both the son and his mother are obligated to honor his father and therefore he must honor his fathers wishes first, is a mathematical equation.
The first requirement is a king must admit when he is wrong.
Because we see these events as world changing, as moments in history, they become part of us forever.
Rabbi Fohrman explores the question of how God communicates with us today.
What did Yehudah say that was so effective that it convinced Yosef to make himself known?
This ability to remain calm under pressure and continue to see the situation clearly is a hallmark of Yehuda’s leadership.
By Joseph Cox
Yosef proves he is a true leader; He is continually and fully engaged in the task of running Egypt
Though we Jews have deep obligations to all people our obligation to our fellow Jew is unique.
Exploring the connection between Pharaoh's dreams and the story of Joseph being sold into slavery.
Our right to exist and our form of self-government were decided by the ruling parties.
It is clear that Tosafos maintains that only someone who lives in a house must light Chanukah candles.
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.
Yehuda knew if the moment isn't right or men are unwilling to listen a skilled leader bides his time
This is a recurring theme in this week’s parsha, in which there are many mistakes made based on perception.
"A person should sell even the beams of his own house in order to buy shoes."
If Hashem is watching tzaddikim, why couldn’t He just save Yosef from all the suffering he was about to endure?
Jacob was well aware that the brothers hated Joseph, yet he sent him to them anyway.
But how could there have been any validity to Yosef’s allegations?
Using Joseph's story to understand what non-prophetic communication with God could look like today
The dreams revealed their differences: The butler was active; the baker completely passive.
Yehudah, more suited to the role, became leader and not Yosef- the very public candidate for the job
By Joseph Cox
Yosef is the perfect leader for a people entering exile because he understands their basic needs
If a man owns a successful small business, he might do a million dollars a year in sales. But that is the gross revenue, not the amount he takes home.
He knew that the way to potentially mollify Esau was to insist that he accept his gift, which he finally did.
If one converts for the sole purpose of marrying a Jew the conversion is invalid.
By Joseph Cox
Yaacov returning to Yithak reconnects him with his past, reconnecting him to the legacy of Avraham.
It is difficult to remain faithful in galut, the ultimate Rorschach test for all Jewish generations
Benno Yaakov, the German Jewish commentator, posits Yaakov's limping caused Eisav's change of heart.
Rabbi Fohrman addresses "What is in a name?"
Yaakov encountering Esav is the classic source in dealing with anti-Semites littering our history
By the time Yaakov becomes Yisrael, however, his worldview has changed dramatically.
October 23, 2026 
