Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Vayeishev 5767: Yosef and the Pit, A Miracle for All Time

moshe

Parsha Vayeishev 5767: Yosef and the Pit, A Miracle for All Time
by, Moshe Burt

Last year, just before Chanukah, a short article appeared on the INN website; “Mortar Shells Filled With Chanukah Light” about the Menorah made from some of the spent Islamic mortal shells which were launched on Neve Dekalim over the years.

Reading about this special Menorah which was lit at one of the Jerusalem hotels which temporarily housed many former Neve Dekalim residents, took me back in time to Philadelphia, in “the “old country” and to a point made by Rav Yehoshua Kaganoff about the pit in which Yaakov was thrown. The point bears repeating. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Vayishlach 5767; Yaakov’s Three Pillars and Modern-Day Medinat Yisrael

moshe

Parsha Vayishlach 5767; Yaakov’s Three Pillars and Modern-Day Medinat Yisrael

by, Moshe Burt

As our Parsha begins, Yaakov sent melachim (angels), some render a translation of messengers, “… ahead of him to Eisev to the land of Seir, to the field of Edom… Thus shall you say … to Eisev, so said your servant Yaakov: ‘Im-Lavan garti’ (I have sojourned with Lavan) …” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 32, posukim 4 & 5)

When the melachim, the messengers return, they inform Yaakov that Eisev “is also coming to meet you; and there a four hundred men with him.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 32, posuk 7) read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Vayeitzei 5767: Distinguishing Good from Evil, Compassion from Cruelty…

moshe

Parsha Vayeitzei 5767: Distinguishing Good from Evil, Compassion from Cruelty

by Moshe Burt

In last week’s Parsha Toldos, we learned about Rivka, who rose above an evil environment while internalizing it’s insights and was thus well positioned to urge Yaakov to claim the Bracha, and about Yaakov, the “Ish Tam”. We learn that Yaakov was “totally honest, a man of great integrity”, who was master over the trait of being “tam”, a “‘plain man’, … without trickery, but he did not allow this character trait to dominate him. He knew when and where to act otherwise.” read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Toldos 5767 — To Rise Above the Norms of One’s Surroundings and Nature…

moshe

Parsha Toldos 5767 — To Rise Above the Norms of One’s Surroundings and Nature…

by, Moshe Burt

Parsha Toldos opens by informing us “And Yitzchak was 40 years old when he took Rivka, the daughter of Besuel, the Aramite, from Padad Aram, the sister of Lavan, the Aramite, for himself for a wife. (Parsha Toldos, Breish’t Perek 25, posuk 20) Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, in his Sefer, “Growth Through Torah” writes that although Rivka was both the daughter of and sister of wicked people, “nevertheless, she did not learn from their evil behavior.” She did not emulate their evil. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Chaye Sarah: Avraham’s Well Developed Attribute of Intuitive Perception…

moshe

Parsha Chaye Sarah: Avraham’s Well Developed Attribute of Intuitive Perception…

by Moshe Burt

There are two intriguing commentaries, each relating to a different posuk of Parsha Chaye Sarah, regarding the dialogue leading up to Avraham Aveinu’s acquistion of the Ma’arat HaMachpela for 400 shekels of silver from Efron the Hittite.

The first of the two posukim is spoken by Avraham and says, in part, “I will have given the money for the field; take it of me …” (Breish’it, Perek 23, posuk 13) read more

Parsha Vayeira 5767: Today’s Lessons of Sodom…

moshe

Parsha Vayeira 5767: Today’s Lessons of Sodom

By Moshe Burt

Our Parsha opens with Hashem, as we understand, visiting Avraham Aveinu on the 3rd day after Bris Milah, when Avraham was at the height of his pain following the circumcision, as Rashi indicates, “to inquire about his welfare.” (Metsuda Linear Chumash rendering of Rashi on Perek 18, posuk 1)

It’s not like Hashem needed to pay a visit to ascertain Avraham’s actual condition for, Hashem is the Creator, The Master, The Ruler over the world who knows and is aware of everything. And so we learn and gain insight from this first posuk as to the Mitzvah of Bikur Cholim; showing, caring, giving strength and encouragement to the ill by visiting and caring about them. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Lech Lecha 5767: Aliyah — Ascending to the Real World…

moshe

Parsha Lech Lecha 5767: Aliyah — Ascending to the Real World…

By Moshe Burt

“Hashem said to Avram, Go for yourself from your land … to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation…” (Breish’t, Perek 12, posukim 1 & 2) Lech Lecha, the “Aliyah Parsha.”

Rashi writes on the posukim, “For your benefit and good. It is there that I will make you a great nation …” (Rashi on Breish’t, Perek 12, posuk 1) read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Noach 5767: Contrasting Noach and Avraham Avinu…

moshe

Parsha Noach 5767: Contrasting Noach and Avraham Avinu

By Moshe Burt

We read in our parsha that “These are the generations of No’ach: No’ach was a righteous man and perfect in his generations, and No’ach walked with G’d.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 6, posuk 9.) The Imrei Shefer comments on the Midrash regarding the words; “These are the generations of No’ach …” that the flood was directly attributable to No’ach’s behavior. According to the Midrash, “he [No’ach]… caused the flood by not protesting against the corrupt actions of the members of his generation.” (Torah Gems, Aharon Yaakov Greenberg, Sefer Breish’t, page 56) read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Breish’t 5767: Post-Simchat Torah Rain; Lessons for the Jews…

moshe

Parsha Breish’t 5767: Post-Simchat Torah Rain; Lessons for the Jews…

By Moshe Burt

This author has, in years past, taken a vacation from compiling a vort, a Parsha HaShevua for Parsha Breish’t. Somehow, not being rabbinic or a Talmud Chacham, it has always seemed difficult to put true and deep meaning of Hashem’s creation to words.

This year however, it rained in Eretz Yisrael on Isru Chag, the Simchat Torah of Chutz L’Aretz. And it didn’t just rain a few sprinkles, it poured on Yom Rishon. The weather reports promise more on Yom Sheini. And the Israeli weatherman is rarely, if ever wrong. read more

Uncategorized

Parsha Nitzavim 5766: Unity — Hashem’s Covenant with Klal Yisrael …

moshe

Parsha Nitzavim 5766: Unity — Hashem’s Covenant with Klal Yisrael …

By Moshe Burt

Parsha Nitzavim begins; “Atem Nitzavim HaYom…Today you are standing before Hashem, your Lord… You are thus being brought into the covenant of Hashem, your Lord, and [accepting] the dread oath that He is making with you today. He has established you as his nation, so that He will be a G’d to you…” (Devarim, Perek 29, posukim 9-12)

L’l Mode U’Lamed comments on these first few p’sukim of Nitzavim noting; “that all members of Klal Yisrael, from the greatest of leaders to the simplest woodcutter, stood together as equals before Hashem…. Thus the poor woodcutter who is devout in his ways and who raises his children as true Jews is elevated to the same level as the wealthy supporter of Jewish causes. No man should consider himself too insignificant to be a partner in the covenant between the Jews and Hashem (L’l Mode U’Lamed on the Weekly Parsha, Parsha Nitzavim, page 183) read more

Uncategorized