Weekly Parsha Thoughts

At the end of Koheles it states את האלוקים ירא ואת מצותיו שמור כי זה כל האדם fear Hashem and guard His mitzvos since this is the entire person. HaRav Elchanan Wasserman explains that people may think that fearing Hashem is an... Read More

The passuk states ותאחז במשפט ידי… and My Hand will hold onto judgment, I will return punishments to My haters, and to those of My enemies I will punish. Rashi brings: Rabboseinu derive from here that Hashem’s middah is not like that... Read More

The Gemara brings that there are three seforim opened on Rosh Hashanah: the complete tzaddikim are signed immediately for life, the complete resha’im are signed immediately for death, and the בינונים, average people, are held out in doubt until Yom Kippur. If... Read More

The passuk states ומל ה’ אלוקיך את לבבך ואת לבב זרעך לאהבה את ה’ which literally means “and Hashem will circumcise your heart and your offspring’s heart to love Hashem.” What is the meaning of Hashem circumcising the heart? Onkelos translates the... Read More

The passuk states when one brings bikkurim he says the words ארמי אובד אבי as part of expressing his appreciation. Onkelos translates these words as “Lavan the Arami wanted to destroy my father.” The Nesina LaGer brings this is as we say... Read More

The Gemara brings: Rava said, “how foolish are most people who stand up before a Sefer Torah but do not stand up before a Talmid Chacham. The Sefer Torah states ‘ארבעים יכנו they shall give him forty lashes,’ and the Rabanan came... Read More