Parshas Chayei Sarah 1

The Kli Yakar points out that the pasuk in last week’s Parsha already stated ׳׳ואברהם ושרה זקנים באים בימים׳׳ , that Avraham and Sarah were old and had seen many days. Thirty seven years had elapsed between then and now; what is the importance of this fact that led the Torah to repeat itself here?

Parshas Vayeira 1

When Avraham Avinu stood before Hashem in this week’s Parsha to pray for the salvage
of Sodom, he uttered the timeless adage “I am but dust and ash.” Rashi explains that Avraham intended to refer to the miracles that Hashem had performed for him. For Avraham should have been ground into dust…

Parshas Lech Lecha 1

The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos states that Hashem tested Avraham Avinu ten times and that Avraham passed them all with flying colors. There are many opinions as to which particular events the ten challenges consist of. The Bartenura for example, contends that the first test was when Nimrod tossed Avraham…

Parshas Noach 1

The first pasuk in this week’s Parsha is peculiar. The pasuk begins to introduce the offspring of Noach and immediately sidetracks into a description of his fine character. Rashi in his first answer explains that the reason for this is, since the Torah mentioned the name of Noach it must tell of his praise…

Parshas Bereishis 1

The Chidah explains this famous proclamation found in the Haftorah of Parshas Bereishis. The Navi Yirmiya begins to prophesize about the End of Days and declares that ׳׳כי מלאה הארץ דעה את ד׳ כמים לים מכסים׳׳ – “For the earth will be as filled with knowledge of Hashem as water covering the seabed” …