Parsha Potpourri

Hachodesh hazeh lachem Rosh Chodoshim (12:2) Our verse contains the first mitzvah which was given to the Jewish people as a collective nation. When read...

V’sheretz haye’or tzefardim v’alu u’ba’u b’veisecha … uv’chadarecha uv’misharosecha (7:28) The Gemora in Pesachim (53b) relates that the righteous Chananya, Mishael, and Azaryah allowed themselves...

Vayiven arei misk’nos l’Paroh es Pisom v’es Ra’amses (1:11) The Gemora in Sotah (11a) explains that the names of the cities Pisom and Raamses allude...

Yissochar chamor garem roveitz bein hamishp’sayim (49:14) Rav Tzvi Markovitz questions why the tribe of Yissochar, whose descendants are known for their dedication to Torah...

Vayomer Yosef el echav ani Yosef ha’od avi chai v’lo yachlu achiv la’anos oso ki nivhalu mipanav (45:3) When Yosef’s brothers came to Egypt to...

Vayomer Paroh el Yosef acharei hodi’ah Elokem es kol zos ein navon v’chochom kamocha (41:39) After Yosef was freed from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams,...

Vayeishev Yaakov b'eretz megurei aviv (37:1) After emerging triumphant from his struggles against his wicked father-in-law Lavan and his brother Eisav, Yaakov returned to Canaan...

Katonti mikol ha'chasadim (32:11) Hashem promised to protect Yaakov and return him safely to the land of Canaan. Nevertheless, as he prepared to face his...

Vayeitzei Yaakov miBe’er Shava vayeilech Charana (28:10) Although the Torah seems to indicate that upon leaving Be’er Sheva, Yaakov traveled directly to Charan to seek...

Vayachp’ru avdei Yitzchok b’nachal vayimt’u sham be’er mayim chaim vayarivu roei Gerar im roei Yitzchok leimor lanu hamayim vayikra shem habe’er Eisek ki his’asku...

Vayihyu chayei Sorah meah shana v'esrim shana v'sheva shanim sh'nei chayei Sorah (23:1) The Medrash relates (Esther Rabbah 1:8) that Rebbi Akiva was once in...

Vayisa einav vayar v’hinei shlosha anashim nitzavim alav vayar vayaratz likrasam mi’pesach ha’ohel vayishtachu artzah (18:2) Avrohom excelled in the mitzvah of hosting guests. Three...

Vayomer Elokim zos os habris … es kashti nasati b’anan v’haysah l’os bris beini u’bein ha’aretz (9:12-13) Hashem told Noach that the rainbow will be...

Hanistaros L’Hashem Elokeinu v’haniglos lanu ul’vaneinu ad olam la’asos es kol Divrei haTorah hazos (29:28) In our verse, the Torah writes the words “lanu ul’vaneinu”...

V’anisa v’amarta (26:5) A farmer is required to bring bikkurim, the first ripened fruits of the seven species for which the land of Israel is...

וראית בשביה אשת יפת תאר וחשקת בה ולקחת לך לאשה 21:11 The Gemora in Shabbos (130a) states that any mitzvah which was accepted by the...

V’kol ha’am yishme’u v’yira’u v’lo yezidun od (17:13) When a person is convicted of a capital crime, the execution is carried out in a public...

Ki y’sis’cha … leimor neil’cha v’naavda elohim acheirim … lo so’veh lo v’lo sish’ma eilav v’lo ta’chos ein’cha alav v’lo sach’mol v’lo t’chaseh alav...

Ki ha’aretz asher atah ba shamah l’rishtah lo k’eretz Mitzrayim hu asher y’tzasem misham asher tizra es zarecha v’hishkisa b’raglecha k’gan hayarek v’ha’aretz asher...

Hashem Elokei avoseichem yosef Aleichem kachem elef pe’amim (1:11) In the middle of his rebuke of the Jewish nation, Moshe blessed them that Hashem should...

V’hikrisem lachem arim arei miklat tih’yena lachem v’nas shama rotzeach makeh nefesh bishgaga (35:11) A man once traveled from Israel to Europe to collect money...

Ish ki yidor neder l’Hashem (30:3) Parshas Mattos begins with the laws governing oaths and vows. The concept of taking a vow to Hashem is...

Pinchas ben Elozar ben Aharon HaKohen (25:11) At the end of last week’s parsha, the Jewish people began to sin with the non-Jewish Midianites. Even...

 Dabeir el B’nei Yisroel v’yikchu aleicha parah adumah temimah (19:2) The Gemora in Kiddushin (31a) relates the tremendous dedication of a non-Jew named Dama ben...

Vayakumu lifnei Moshe v’anashim mi’Bnei Yisroel chamishim umasayim nesi’ei eida kriei moed anshei shem (16:2) Parshas Korach begins with the tragic revolt led by Korach...

Vayotzi’u dibas ha’aretz asher taru osah el B’nei Yisroel leimor ha’aretz asher avarnu bah lasur osah eretz ocheles yoshveha hee (13:32) The first chapter of...

Vayitzbat lah kali (Rus 2:14) After Boaz noticed Rus gathering grain in his field, he begged her to remain in his fields and promised to...

Ish o isha ki yaflee lindor neder nazir l’hazir l’Hashem (6:2) A nazir is a person who accepts upon himself three prohibitions: not to cut...

Ish al diglo b’osos l’beis avosam yachanu B’nei Yisroel mineged saviv l’ohel moed yachanu (2:2) Our Sages teach that everything written in the Torah is...

V'hishbati chaya ra'ah min ha'aretz (26:6) Although Parshas Bechukosai is commonly referred to as the parsha of “tochacha” – rebuke – it actually begins with...

V’kidashtem es sh’nas hachamishim shana u’krasem dror b’aretz l’kol yoshveha yovel hee tihyeh lachem (25:10) Parshas Behar begins by teaching us about the mitzvah of...

U'sfartem lachem mimacharas haShabbos miyom haviachem es omer hatenufah sheva shabbasos temimos tihyenah (23:15) Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein relates that a weak and sickly centenarian once...

L'shana HaBa'ah B'Yerushalayim (Haggadah Shel Pesach) The Pesach Seder begins with a prayer: this year we are here, next year we should be in the...

Vayomer Hashem el Moshe dabeir el Aharon achicha v’al yavo b’chol eis el haKodesh (16:2) Rav Yonason Eibeshutz was once collecting tzedakah for a poverty-stricken...

L'horos b'yom ha'tamei uv'yom ha'tahor zos toras ha'tzara'as (14:57) A doctor in Jerusalem once approached the Tzitz Eliezer, Rav Eliezer Waldenberg, with an interesting legal...