Weekly Parsha Thoughts

Va’eira

Pharaoh requests from Moshe and Aharon to daven to remove the frogs. Moshe responds, “התפאר עלי למתי אעתיר לך.” Rashi explains התפאר means glorify or boast, as it states “היתפאר הגרזן על החוצב בו will an ax feel glorified over the one...
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Shemos

The Gemara (סוטה יב:) brings Pharaoh made three decrees against Yisrael. First he said, “אם בן הוא והמתן אתו, if it is a boy, kill him.” Rashi explains, first Pharaoh relied on the midwives and did not appoint guards. When that didn’t...
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Vayechi

The passuk states “דן ידין עמו כאחד שבטי ישראל.” Onkelos translates as “From the house of Dan will be chosen, and a man will arise, in his days his nation will be redeemed, and in his years the tribes of Yisrael will...
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Vayigash

The passuk states Yosef tells his brothers, “I will tell Pharaoh that you have come והאנשים רעי צאן כי אנשי מקנה היו.” Onkelos translates as “and the men were shepherds of sheep, since they were men, masters of flock. Onkelos translates the...
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Chanukah

The Gemara brings, the Bais Chashmona’im overpowered the Yevanim and they found one jug of oil which lit for eight nights. The Chachamim instituted a Yom Tov with hallel and hod’ah, with giving praise and thanks. Rashi explains hallel refers to saying...
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Vayeishev

The passuk states “ויבא הביתה לעשות מלאכתו and he came to the house to do his work.” Onkelos translates לעשות מלאכתו as “and he entered to check his calculations.” The Nesina LaGer explains this is like the opinion in the Gemara that...
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