Parshas Bereishis Yeshaya 42:5 – 43:10 We introduce the year’s Haftora reading with a penetrating message defining our awesome role in this world. Rashi quotes the Sages’ Aggadic interpretation of the Torah’s opening word, “Breishis” to mean, “For the sake of the choice”. Based on references from the books of Yirmiyahu and Mishle, the Sages…
Category: 613 mitzvos
Parshas Bereishis
Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. In the beginning G-d created separate and different creations. Each of these separate and different creations has its own…
Parshas Bereishis
Parshas Bereishis By Nosson Chayim Leff Bereishis, 5631 (1871) Let us begin from the beginning, the first ma’amar of the Sfas Emes on Parshas Bereishis. The Sfas Emes starts by quoting Rashi’s comment on the posuk (Bereishis, 2,2) “Vayechal Elokim … ” Says Rashi: “Ma haya ha’olam chaseir? Menucha! Bah Shabbos, bah menucha. Kalsa nenigmera…
VEZOTH HABBERAKAH
Jerusalem Targum Pgs. 672-685 Ch. 33-34 SECTION LIV. VEZOTH HABBERAKAH. XXXIII. AND this is the order of the Benedictions wherewith Mosheh the Prophet blessed the children of Israel before he died. And he said: The Lord was revealed at Sinai to give the law unto His people of Beth Israel, and the splendour of the…
HAAZINU TARGUM OF ONKELOS ON THE TORAH
HAAZINU XXXII. LISTEN, ye heavens, and I will speak ; give ear, O earth, to the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall be soft as rain; let it be received as the dew, and my word be as the breath of the rain that breathes upon the grass, and as the showers of the…
Parsha Summary – Parshas Haazinu
Parshas Haazinu Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. 1st Aliya: Moshe begins by describing the presence of Hashem in nature as being as evident as…
Sfas Emes – Parshas Haazinu
Parshas Haazinu By Nosson Chayim Leff Ha’azinu, 5634 [paragraph 3] It helps to begin with some background information. In parshas Emor, the Torah presents many halachos which pertain to the Yomim Tovim. As we would expect, that material includes a section on Sukkos. That section, in turn, includes the halachos of the “arba minim” —…
Parsha Summary Netzavim – Vayeilech
Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. It’s about time we stopped making excuses and took responsibility for who and what we are. It’s long overdue….
Parshas Netzavim/Vayeilech
Haftorah Yeshaya 61:10 This week’s haftorah marks the climax of a seven week series of reflection on Jewish redemption. In this final presentation, Hashem announces His personal return to the Jewish people. Now that every other dimension of redemption is in place, the time has finally arrived for Hashem to rest His Divine Presence amongst…
Educating Children Regarding the Mitzvah of Prayer
Question: Is there a halachic requirement for children to pray three times a day, namely, Shacharit, Mincha, and Arvit? Similarly, is it correct to bring children to the synagogue during the High Holidays? Answer: The Mishnah (Berachot 20b) tells us: “Women, slaves, and children are obligated to pray.” Rashi explains that since the purpose…
KI TAVO THIRD READING
Deuteronomy 26: 16-19 Moses encourages the Jewish people to uphold their covenant with G-d that was forged at the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. In return for keeping the covenant, G-d would hold them especially dear, above His love for all other people. What it means to be “set apart”…
Sfas Emes – Parshas Ki Savo
Parshas Ki Savo By Nosson Chaim Leff Ki Savo, 5631 The Sfas Emes takes as his initial text the following pasuk (Devarim, 26:16): “Ha’yom ha’zeh HaShem Eloke’cha metza’vecha la’asos es ha’chukim ha’eileh …” (“Today, HaShem, your G-d, commands you to do these decrees …”). This pasuk leads the Sfas Emes to draw our attention to…
Yeshua Centered Judaism 
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