Avraham’s relationship with Hashem was unique among the avot. He was the only one whom the Almighty called both avdi (my servant) (Bereishit 26:24), and ohavi (my beloved friend) (Yeshayahu …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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11/4/20
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When we examine the first verse of our parasha, “Va’yomer Hashem el Avram (And Hashem said to Avram), ‘Lech lecha (Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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10/28/20
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The penultimate verses of Parashat Bereishit present us with dire foreboding: And the L-rd saw that the evil of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of his heart was only evil all …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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10/22/20
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The Torah begins with the famous words, “Bereishit bara Elokim ate hashamayim v’ate ha’aretz.” Translators and meforshim frequently disagree as to how to interpret the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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10/14/20
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There are many intricate rules concerning the construction of a succah that are presented in the Gemara and codified by the poskim. Rav Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch, states in Orech …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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10/1/20
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The final three pasukim of Sefer Michah are found in this week’s haftarah, as well as immediately after the recitation of Sefer Yonah on Yom Kippur afternoon:
Who is a G-d like You, Who …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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9/23/20
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In a few days we will be standing before Hashem on Rosh Hashana. Each of us will ask our Creator’s forgiveness for sins we committed over the course of the preceding year. Since this is the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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9/16/20
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Parashat Nitzavim contains a celebrated pasuk that proclaims the ready accessibility of the Torah: “Lo bashamayim he” (It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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9/9/20
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One of the better-known sections of our parasha, Ki Tavo, consists of the brachot v’k’lallot, the blessings for keeping the mitzvot of the Torah and the curses for failing to fulfill …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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9/2/20
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There are two mitzvot in the Torah whose fulfillment promises arichut hayamim (long life). The first is the mitzvah of kibbud av v’eime (honoring one’s parents), found in the asseret …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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8/26/20
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