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The significance of the Exodus cannot be overstated. Amidst the intensity of the Lawgiving the A-mighty referenced the Exodus as the basis for the nation’s faith. (See generally Shemoth 20:2).    The Mishnah (Berachoth 12b) teaches that the Exodus should be recalled even at night. Rashi ZT’L ZY’A explains the Mishnah concerns the inclusion of BaMidbar 15:37-41 which…

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What is Shabbos?

If life is a cycle, the most basic example of it in the world around us would be the week. All the other cycles have natural events that mark them: the day has sunrise and sunset; the month has the waxing and waning of the moon; and the year has the seasons with the sun's altered placement in the sky. The week, however, is solely around human life events.

What is the week about? If human life has any representative feature, it is most likely 'question and answer'. If… Continue

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The origins of the Egyptian servitude are fascinating as they are frightening. Shemoth 1:6-13 sees Bene Yisrael transition from the family of Yossef under whose guidance the country emerged from a famine which engulfed the region more prosperous than before to slaves tasked with sprit breaking labor. The Torah relates Pharaoh seeking counsel as to how to deal with his Jewish Problem and chooses to enslave…

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שבת טעם החיים שמות תשע"א

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Shemos 5771



The Unconquerable Light

ותהר האשה ותלד בן ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא ותצפנהו שלשה ירחים, the woman conceived and gave birth to a son. She saw that he was good and she hid him for three months. (Shemos 2:2)

In this week’s parasha the Torah records the birth of the leader of the Jewish People, Moshe. It is said (Shemos 2:2) ותרא אותו כי טוב הוא ותצפנהו שלשה ירחים, she saw that he was good and she hid him for three… Continue

The tenth of Teveth, the fast observed in remembrance of Nebuchadnezzar’s force laying siege to Jerusalem which three years latter culminated in the sacking of Jerusalem and the First Temple’s destruction (approx. the year, 3335). The Sidra concludes the book of Bereshith (50:24)  Yossef on his deathbed assures his brothers that G-D will redeem them from Egypt. Yossef further charges his brothers that at the hour of redemption his remains be returned to the Land of…

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שבת טעם החיים ויחי תשע"א

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Vayechi 5771



Shechem and the Power of Prayer

ואני הנה נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך אשר לקחתי מיד האמרי בחרבי ובקשתי, and I have given you Shechem – one [portion] more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. (Bereishis 48:22)

It is said (Bereishis 48:22) ואני הנה נתתי לך שכם אחד על אחיך אשר לקחתי מיד האמרי בחרבי ובקשתי, and I have given you Shechem – one [portion] more than… Continue

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The intersection of events begs discerning a common theme connecting them. The validity of the common lesson is magnified exponentially if different analyses of the events coming from diverse intellectual perspective arrive independently at essentially the same idea. This coming Shabbat stands in the shadow of Chanukah and stand in advance of the calamitous week ahead. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the 8th, 9th and 10th of Tevet commemorate the death of Ezra the Scribe, Ptolemy compelled…

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“The one who lights [the Chanukah Lamps] on the first night recites three Blessings, To kindle the Lamps of Chanukah, He who performed miracles and Shehechiyanu, That [He] has kept us alive ….” (Schulchan Aruch , Orach Chaim 676:1) How do these blessings fit in the specific context of Chanukah?…

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