As Yaakov prepares to meet his brother Esav for the first time in over 20 years, he encounters the spirit of Esav, with whom he wrestles until daybreak. While Yaakov wins the fight, his hip is...
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Dvar for Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:1)
On his journey to Charan, Yaakov (Jacob) sleeps and dreams of a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels climbing and descending it. In the dream, G-d promises Yaakov the land upon which he...
Dvar for Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9)
While living in Gerar, Yitzchak (Isaac) unearths the wells originally dug by his father Avraham and digs a few of his own. In reference to one of the wells, the passuk records “and he named it...
Dvar for Chaye Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18)
Avraham summons his servant Eliezer, the elder of his house and ruler of all of Avraham’s possessions (24:2), to find a suitable wife for his son Yitzchak. Why do we need to know about Eliezer’s...
Dvar for Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24)
As two of the angels arrive in Sedom to destroy it, Lot, who positions himself at the city’s gates, invites them to his home to eat and rest (19:2). Inviting guests into Sedom is a crime (Midrash...
Dvar for Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27)
When the southern region of Canaan becomes embroiled in a battle involving nine kings, Avram’s nephew Lot is among the captives. When Avram is informed of this, the passuk refers to him as “Avram...
Dvar for Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32)
Once the waters have dried up, G-d instructs Noach to leave the ark with his wife, his sons, and the sons’ wives (8:15). However, when Noach exits, the exit order is himself, his sons, his wife, and...
Dvar for Bereishit (Genesis 1:1-6:8)
As we begin Bereishit, after recounting creation and Adam/Chava’s sin of eating from the forbidden tree, life seemingly settles down for Adam and Chava. Adam goes off to work, they have two...
Dvar for Haazinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52)
When poetically describing the Jews’ rebelling against G-d, Moshe says, “And Yeshurun became fat and kicked [rebelled]…” (32:15). Why are the Jews called “Yeshurun,” and what does it mean that they...
Dvar for Vayelech (Deuteronomy 31:1-31:30)
After Moshe takes the concluded Torah scrolls and gives them to the Levi'im (Levites) for safekeeping, he "spoke into the ears of the entire assembly of Israel the words of the following song, until...