Weekly Parsha Thoughts

Yosef reveals himself to his brothers and says, “I am Yosef; is my father still alive?”  The passuk continues, “and the brothers couldn’t answer…” The Gemara says: Woe to us on the day of judgment, woe to us on the day of... Read More

The passuk says, “vayihi mikaitz shnasayim yamim,” on which the Midrash says “kaitz sum lachoshech” Hashem set an end to the darkness of Yosef being in jail, and when this time came Pharaoh had a dream.  The Beis HaLevi explains that everything... Read More

The pesukim say “and Reuven heard and he saved him from their hands and he said, ‘we shouldn’t kill him.’ And Reuven said to them, ‘don’t spill his blood, throw him into this pit which is in the desert and don’t send... Read More

The pesukim in this parsha tell us that Yaakov sent presents to Esav.  When Yaakov and Esav met, Esav said, “yaish lee rav,” therefore I don’t want to take the presents.  Yaakov replied, “yaish lee kol,” therefore you should take the presents. ... Read More

The passuk says, “and he took from the stones of the place and he put them underneath his head…” Rashi explains that Yaakov made the stones as a marzev, gutter, around his head because he was afraid of wild animals.  The Maharsha... Read More

The passuk says, “Esav said in his heart… ‘and I’ll kill Yaakov my brother.'” The next passuk continues “and it was told to Rivka…” Rashi explains it was told to her with ruach hakodesh, because Esav only thought in his heart what... Read More