יום חמישי, י״א חשוון תשפ״זThursday, October 22, 2026
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A person who truly feels that everything is a blessing from G-d will count his blessings and realize just how much he has.
By Joseph Cox
Yaacov returns the stolen blessing of material wealth and physical might to Esav
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
Rashi in Shabbos 9b writes that the reason why the tefillah of Ma’ariv is a reshus is because it was instituted corresponding to the burning of the eimurim from the korbanos – which was performed at night.
It almost sounds as if Hashem is saying, “I have to keep Yaakov from getting too comfortable; otherwise he will forget Me. I can’t promise him sustenance because then he won’t need Me. He won’t write. He won’t call. He won’t love Me anymore.”
Jacob cries, overcome by the knowledge that his great love for Rachel will end in unbearable pain.
There's a perfect mirror between Jacob running away from Esav to when he reunites with his brother.
Yitzhak called you Esav and you answered him, then he called you Yaakov and you also answered him!”
Yitzchak thought the Jewish people needed dual leadership: Eisav the physical; Yaakov the spiritual
By Rachel Weiss
According to the Sefer Yetzirah, the nature of the month of Kislev is sleep.
Not every child can live up to our hopes or expectations, but every child is loved by Hashem.
Leaders must always pay attention to the importance of timing.
By Joseph Cox
While our leaders have been shepherds, the vast majority of the Children of Israel were farmers.
Ramban interprets Korban as self-sacrifice, each Jew should attempt to recreate Akeidas Yitzchak.
Why does Lavan’s speaking before his father show that he was wicked? Disrespectful, yes. Rude, certainly. But a rasha?
We find that in certain circumstances before the Torah was actually given, people were permitted to make calculations as to what would better serve Hashem, even if it were against a mitzvah or aveirah.
Looking at examples of the word "toldot" to argue we produce not only children but vision and legacy
A sense of innovation or assertion in Yitzchak’s life is found in one area – spirituality.
We must understand the power and impact of our actions.
If you're always battling against getting older, you're always going to be unhappy.
The implication of the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 233:2) is that one may not daven Minchah before six and one half hours into the day.
Perhaps deep down Eliezer did hesitate. In his heart of hearts, he may not have wanted to succeed.
This complementary nature and unified destiny is the basis of the Covenantal Community.
What happened was that Frank Jr. stopped being the little babe looking with love into his father’s eyes, and the relationship took on a very different nature.
By Joseph Cox
This week's parsha is the archetype of our connection to G-d in a world where His presence is hidden
Racheli Frankel: "I didn’t think they were thrown just anywhere. The tears of Hebron embraced them”
What is the surprising connection between Eliezer and Samuel? Find out with Rabbi David Fohrman
Defenders of “The Shidduch System” cite that Yitzchak loved Rivka after they got married, not before
Avraham was asked to nullify his identity, by fulfilling the opposite of what he believed right.
Is it possible a man could be standing in a burning building, knowing this life is in danger, and be too lazy to move?
If I appoint someone as Shatz, he is supposed to pray for me, as if I was praying.
Some Rishonim are bothered by the opinion of the Rambam that bnei Noach are commanded not to eat basar min hachai.
The story of Vayeira is a basis for our slavery and ultimate exodus from Egypt.
To be fully saved means not only to come out physically unscathed but emotionally healthy as well.
Yishmael could claim to be a victim; he only prevails when he subordinates himself to Yitzchak.
People love their GPS; just type in the address and it tells you exactly how to get to where you want to go.
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
According to the Raavad if one who is uncircumcised breaks something he will be exempt from paying for it since he was chayav kares at the same time as he was obligated to repay for the item he broke.
Having herself been victimized by Pharoah, Sarah should have been more sensitive to Hagar.
Avram’s father was not impressed with the cleverness of his son. In fact, he was so unimpressed that he took him to Nimrod the king, who pronounced him an enemy of the state and attempted to execute him.
How do the stories in Lech Lecha help us understand the central tension of Abraham's life, legacy?
Abraham did not govern society but instead was the representative of God’s kingdom on earth.
Hagar grossly miscalculated her own merits and demonstrated a serious lack of gratitude for Sarai.
Noach was the lonely man of faith living in a depraved world, full of wickedness.
Avraham became a great man during the 175 years of his life, while his predecessors became increasingly wicked, despite staggering knowledge, during their lifetimes of hundreds of years.
Shem realized that he owed his existence to his father who brought him into the world.
By Joseph Cox
The flood was not sent to destroy, but to restore the positive potential of the world.
Strict din demands perfection. There is no room for shortcomings and no place for excuses; you are responsible.
Noah and his wife could not fathom living together as husband and wife and continuing the human race
Our intentions are critical in raising children because they mimic everything we parents do & think
By Joseph Cox
The creation of the world is described twice. Each description serves a unique purpose.
I, the one who is housed inside this body, am completely and utterly spiritual.
If one hurts another human being, God is hurt; if one brings joy to another, God is more joyous.
Bereshit: Life includes hard choices that challenge our decisions, leaving lingering complications.
Rabbi Fohrman:" Great evils are often wrought by those who are blithely unaware of the power they wield."
Hashem created all human beings and it should sadden us when Hashem, their Father, does not see nachas from them.
When Hashem formed man, He gave him the keys to Creation. As the Midrash tells us, Hashem said to Adam, “This is your world now. You are in charge of it; take care that you don’t destroy it.”
Realizing that his death was immanent and he had only a few more moments, Moshe focuses on doing the most important thing: he runs to Bnei Yisrael and blesses them.
The Sukka: Even if you find it difficult to come to the synagogue, the synagogue will come to you.
The Shagas Aryeh leaves the matter somewhat unresolved, and posits that on the first night one is only obligated in simchah m’d’Rabanan.
The Jewish world today is a critical part of the timeline in Jewish history.
Often in life we become stuck – stuck in the morass of our habits and the rote of our comfort level.
There is one day of the year on which the Satan has no power: Yom Kippur.
What right do I, sinner, have to approach Hashem and request forgiveness?
Imagine a man who, after having a few too many drinks, gets into his car and begins driving. It takes a while before he is pulled over, but finally the police arrest him, and he stands trial for driving while intoxicated.
Others suggest that one cannot separate Shabbos from Yom Kippur by accepting Shabbos early.
Ba’al Shem Tov: “Hashem, too, is crying; as much as He is looking for us, we rarely look for Him.”
On Rosh Hashanah we are taught that true self-analysis involves the breaking down of walls
When we hear the words "Rosh Hashana is coming" it really means Hashem Himself is coming!
While women are exempt from actually learning Torah, they are obligated in a different aspect of the mitzvah.
Once we recognize that our separation from God is our fault, how do we repair it?
To choose life, you must examine your actions in the period preceding the Days of Awe as an unbiased stranger, and render your decision.
This world has its purpose; it has been ideally fashioned to allow man to grow.
Perhaps the most important leadership lesson Elkana taught us is to never underestimate the difference a single person can make.
The Torah notes that even when we are dispersed God will return us to Him.
Our understanding of what is and what is not possible creates imagined ceilings of opportunity for us.
The Chafetz Chaim answered that there are two forms of teshuvah; teshuvah m’ahava and teshuvah m’yirah.
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.
As Moshe is about to die, why does God tell him about how the Israelites will ruin everything?
By Joseph Cox
This week's parsha offers a new covenant; a covenant that speaks to national life unlike any other
All Jews are inherently righteous and that is why we all have a portion in the World to Come.
Since it is a Rabbinic prohibition we may follow the more lenient opinion.
How can the Torah expect me today, thousands of years after the mitzvahs were given, to view each mitzvah as if I’m fulfilling it for the first time?
According to Ibn Ezra, the Torah was stressing through this covenant that hypocrisy was forbidden.
Simcha is total; sahs is God’s joy in protecting us even when we are most vulnerable.
They ask, how can Rabbeinu Gershom forbid marrying more than one wife, when the Torah explicitly permits it in this parshah?
the test of moral integrity truly presents itself when one faces difficult situations.
A replica reminds a person of the original. Granted it is in miniature, and granted no one would mistake it for the original, but it carries, almost in caricature form, some semblance of the original.
The inability of creation to violate Hashem’s natural law extends to inanimate object such as heaven and earth.
First, how could a beis din of 23 judges present a guilty verdict in a capital punishment case? After all, only a majority of the 23 judges ruled in favor of his verdict.
Of paramount importance is that both the king and his people realize that while he is the leader, he is still a subject of God.
When a person feels he can control the destiny of other people, he runs the risk of feeling self-important, significant, and mighty.
Shoftim: The Line Between Murder And Apathy
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?
Eisenhower understood that motivated men will fight much harder and longer than unmotivated men.
Who does not want to get close to Hashem? Yet, how do we do that?
According to Rabbi Yishmael one was not permitted to eat such an animal prior to entering Eretz Yisrael, while according to Rabbi Akiva one was permitted to eat animals if he would perform nechirah.
If a man sins and follows his inclinations, he will find comfort in this world – but when he dies, he will go to a place that is all thorns.
The first prayer of Moshe was Vayechal, where Moshe's petition was that no matter how bad bnei Yisrael were, the Egyptians were worse.
October 23, 2026 
