Testing Presidents From Bush To Trump, 9/11 Shaped Politics
Four presidential campaigns. Eight congressional elections. The longest war in U.S. history.
The Sept. 11 attacks have shaped U.S. politics, sometimes over the objections of...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Re’eh
Lo sa’ason kein l’Hashem Elokeichem (12:4)
After instructing the Jewish people to break and smash the idolatrous temples and pillars which they will find in...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Devarim
Eileh ha’devorim asher dibeir Moshe (1:1)
There are 5 books in the written Torah, and 6 sections of the Mishnah – the Oral Torah....
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...
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: Behar-Bechukosai
Parsha Potpourri
Parshas Behar - Bechukosai – Vol. 5, Issue 30
Compiled by Oizer Alport
כי תבאו אל הארץ אשר אני נתן לכם ושבתה הארץ שבת לד'...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Eikev
V'achalta v'savata u'veirachta es Hashem Elokecha al ha'aretz ha'tovah asher nasan lach (8:10)
Parshas Eikev contains the mitzvah of reciting Birkas HaMazon (Grace after Meals),...
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 Vayakhel/Pekudei
V’chol hanashim asher nasah liban osana b’chochma tavu es ha’izim (35:26)
Rashi writes that the women displayed special skills and wisdom in spinning the...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Tetzaveh
V’atah Tetzaveh (27:20)
The Baal HaTurim points out that from the birth of Moshe in Parshas Shemos until his death in Parshas V’Zos HaBeracha, this...
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 Vayeitzei
Vayeitzei Yaakov miBe'er Shava vayeilech Charana (28:10)
The parsha begins by relating that Yaakov departed from Be'er Sheva and went to Charan. As the Torah...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Bereishis
בראשית ברא אלקים את השמים ואת הארץ (1:1)
On Simchas Torah, we complete the annual cycle of the public reading of the Torah by finishing Parshas...
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 beshalach
V'chamushim alu B'nei Yisroel me'eretz Mitzrayim (13:18)
The Torah relates that the Jewish people left Egypt chamushim. A number of explanations are given for the...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Tazria-Metzora
Adam ki yih'yeh b'or besaro se'eis o sapachas o baheres v'haya b'or besaro l'negah tzara'as v'huva el Aharon HaKohen o el echad mi'banav ha'Kohanim...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Toldos
Va'yetar Yitzchok l'Hashem l'nochach ishto ki akara hee va'yei'aseir lo Hashem va'tahar Rivkah ishto (25:21)
After 20 childless years of marriage, Yitzchok and Rivkah petitioned...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Terumah
V'asu li Mikdash v'shachanti b'socham (25:8)
In Shir HaShirim (3:11), Shlomo HaMelech refers to an event which occurred b'yom chasunaso ub'yom simchas libo - on...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Sisa
Ki sisa es rosh B'nei Yisroel lif'kudeihem (30:12)Hashem commanded Moshe regarding the proper manner in which to take a census of the Jewish people,...
Parsha Potpourri
Vayavey es ha'Aron el ha'Mishkan vayasem eis Paroches hamasach vayasech al Aron ha'Eidus ka'asher tzivah Hashem es Moshe (40:21)
In his commentary on our verse,...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Yisro
Vayishma Yisro (18:1)
The Imrei Emes was once present at a Rabbinical conference in Warsaw that was called to discuss the burning issues of the...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Savo
ואמרת לפני ד' אלקיך בערתי הקדש מן הבית וגם נתתיו ללוי ולגר ליתום ולאלמנה
ככל מצותך אשר צויתני לא עברתי ממצותיך ולא שכחתי (26:13)
There is...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Bo
V’haya ha’dam lachem l’os al ha’batim (12:13)
The Tosefos Yom Tov writes (Demai 7:3) that some people ask a powerful question based on the verse...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Terumah
V’asu li Mikdash v’shachanti b’socham (25:8)
One of the blessings commonly given to a newly-engaged couple is “Der zivug zohl oleh yafeh zein.” While it...
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 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
V’ragl’cha lo batzeika zeh arba’im shana (8:4)
In mentioning that the shoes of the Jewish people miraculously didn’t wear out during their sojourn in the...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Savo
V’amarta lifnei Hashem Elokecha biarti hakodesh min ha’bayis v’gam n’sativ l’levi ul’ger l’yasom ul’almana k’chol mitzvas’cha asher tzivisani lo avarti mi’mitzvosecha v’lo shachachti (26:13)
...
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 Shemini
Vateitzei aish milifnei Hashem vatochal osam vayamusu lifnei Hashem (10:2)
The Gemora in Sanhedrin (52a) teaches that while Moshe and Aharon were leading the way...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Tetzaveh/Purim
V'asisa bigdei Kodesh l'Aharon achicha l'kavod ul'tifares (28:2)
Rav Yitzchok Hutner once related that while studying in the Slabodka yeshiva in Europe, he often heard...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Yisro
Parshas Yisro begins by relating that Yisro heard about all of the miracles that Hashem performed for the Jewish people. This motivated him to...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Ki Seitzei
וראית בשביה אשת יפת תאר וחשקת בה ולקחת לך לאשה (21:11)
Parshas Ki Seitzei begins by discussing the y’fas toar – woman of beautiful form. The Torah...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Vayeira
Yukach na me'at mayim ... v'ekcha pas lechem v'sa'adu lib'chem (18:4-5)
Avrohom excelled in the mitzvah of hosting guests. Three days after he had circumcised...
Parsha Potpourri: Parshas Chayei Sorah
Vayakam Avrohom me'al p'nei meiso vay'dabeir el b'nei Cheis leimor ger v'toshav anochi imachem t'nu li achuzas kever imachem v'ekb'ra meisi mil'fanai (23:3-4)
The Gemora...