How close?
Hashem appears far beyond our grasp, beyond this world and beyond all galaxies, in the highest heavenly realm lies His throne of Glory. How far away God seems from us. But in truth, there is none as close as He. How close? Close enough to hear us whisper! (Jerusalem Talmud, Brachot 9)
Torah adds up!
“For I have known him so that he may command his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem to do righteousness and justice…” (Genesis 18:19) In the phrase here “אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו” (that he may command his children”) – the last letter of each word forms the word TORAH […]
Abraham’s concern
There is a puzzling sequence of verses in this week’s Torah portion: In Genesis 15:5, the Almighty promises a very old and barren Abraham that he will have a huge progeny – as many as the countless stars in the heavens. Abraham fully trusts in this promise and God accounted this faith as righteousness (15:6). […]
What is the source of faith?
“And he trusted in Hashem, and he counted it to Him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) Usually, this verse is understand as “He” counted to “him” for righteousness. God regarded Abraham’s faith as virtuous. But the Hebrew can go either way. So let’s see how the Sefer Avodas Yisrael spins this: Abraham trusted in Hashem, and […]
Spreading the light
“He took him outside and said: Look toward the heavens and count the stars…And He said to him – so will your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5) Abraham’s descendants are compared to the stars of the heavens whose light is able to bring illumination to the darkness of night. God appointed Israel to be a light […]
Transforming negativity
“I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse… (Genesis 12:3). The Hebrew terms here break symmetry in an interesting way. The root for ‘bless’ (BRCH) is used twice in the verse. But there are two different Hebrew roots for cursing (KLL and ARR). God says: Those who curse […]
All you need is love
“When a person in in special need of God’s love, God sends them an opportunity to show love and give to another.” (Rebbe Nachman of Breslov) Our days are filled with countless opportunities to give to others. We only need to open our eyes to appreciate how many ways we can exhibit generosity with people […]
Light up your words
“…A window you shall make for the ark.” (Genesis 6:16) The Hebrew word for window is ‘tzohar’, which can also mean illumination or light. The word for ark is ‘teivah’, which can also mean word. Based on this, the Baal Shem Tov derives a teaching about prayer: You shall illuminate your words! Polish them with […]
Light vs Darkness
God called the light day and the darkness He called night… (Genesis 1:5) Rabbi Elijah of Vilna, known as the Gaon (genius) of Vilna used this verse from the beginning of the Torah to illuminate a passage from King Solomon’s book of Ecclesiastes: And I perceived that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness (2:13). […]
Now we begin…
“In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1) The Almighty only created the beginning. He left the rest to mankind. (Rabbi Leibele Eiger of Lublin)