Weekly Parsha Thoughts

On Rosh Hashanah, I sat behind the person who blows shofar. On the 2nd night of Rosh Hashanah, he asks me, “What do you use for shehechiyanu, do you have any spare shehechiyanu fruits for me?” I wondered, why didn’t he prepare... Read More

The passuk states, “הנסתרות לה’ אלהינו והנגלות לנו ולבנינו עד עולם, that which is hidden is to Hashem our G-d, and that which is revealed is to us and our children forever.” What are the נסתרות, hidden things, which are to Hashem,... Read More

The passuk states “Hashem will command for you the bracha, באסמיך.” What does this mean? The Gemara brings b’shem Rebi Yitzchak: bracha is only found by something which is hidden from the eye, as it states יצו ה’ אתך את הברכה באסמיך.”... Read More

The passuk states “לא תחרש בשור ובחמור יחדיו, do not plow with an ox and donkey together.” The Bal HaTurim explains the reason is because an ox chews its cud whereas the donkey does not. When the donkey sees the ox chewing... Read More

The pessukim mention a person who is found dead in the field and it is not known who killed him. The elders of the closest city say, “ידינו לא שפכו את הדם הזה ועינינו לא ראו, our hands did not spill this... Read More

The passuk states by ma’aser sheni, “למען תלמד ליראה את ה’ אלוהיך כל הימים, in order to fear Hashem your G-d all the days.” Tosfos brings the Sifrei: maaser sheni is so great that it brought people to learning Torah. While a... Read More