Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Bo
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Va’era
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Shemos
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayechi
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayigash
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Mikeitz
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,...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeishev
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayishlach
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeitzei
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Toldos
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Chayei Sorah
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeira
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Noach
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech
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”...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Savo
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Seitzei
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Shoftim
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Re’eh
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Eikev
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Devarim
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Masei
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Matos
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Pinchas
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Chukas
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Korach
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Shelach
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Shavuos / Parshas Beha’aloscha
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Naso
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Bamidbar
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Bechukosai
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Behar
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Emor
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Pesach 5771
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Acharei Mos
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...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Metzora
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...