Meaningful Ideas on the Parsha

Beautiful idea from Rav Simcha Zissel Broide. Why do we have a goat hair cover on top of the woven cover of the Mishkan? Why do Gedolim always try to cover up their greatness?

2021 Shiur on Terumah. Beatiful Ramazim of the Kli Yakar, exploring why the Aron Kodesh dimensions all contain fractions, the Shulchan dimensions are all whole numbers (integers), and the Mizbeach Ha-Ola dimensions are a mixture of fractions and whole numbers.

Something different this week. Focusing on how we absorb information, gain from it, and integrate it into our worldview. How the right methodology combined with an intellectual curiosity and Teshukas Hachachma helps us approach the Torah differently and remember it better. Do touch on some of the Halachos of the Parsha about Eved Ivri, Nezikin, and Shomrim.

The Shiur from 2021. Two Chofetz Chaim Shmuessin on why the one who steals a sheep pays 4, yet one who steals a cow pays 5. Additionally, lessons from the way Moshe Rabeinu cared for sheep, to how we need to care for and approach others. One of my strong opinions about Chinuch.

Exploring some of the changes in Klal Yisrael and in our relationship with the Torah that occurred when we received the first and second Luchos. How did we change and how did the Torah change? Includes a phenomenal Chiddush from the Bais Halevi in the change in the nature of the Torah Shel Baal Peh.

Analyzing the pinnacle line of Shiras HaYam. Why was הּ' ימלך לעולם ועד the new Shirah they sang at the Yam Suf? Why does Onkeles translate it in the present tense, as we read in Oz Yashir every day? Isn't it clearly future tense?

Is darkness just the absence of light, or is it it's own reality? How can the same individual express both tremendous light and Chas VaShalom sometimes much darkness as well?

How did the mechanics of the Makkos work, and what did they teach us about the way the world works? What does Bishvili Nivra Haolam mean for me?  Based on ideas from the Alter of Slobodka in Ohr Hatzafon on the chiddushim in Maaseh Bereishis we learned from Yetzias Mitzrayim.

Why does the Torah name them Shifra and Puah after the way they cared for the babies? Shouldn't they be named after their Mesiras Nefesh and their impact on Klal Yisrael? Some ideas on how true greatness is manifested.

Analyzing the first Rashi in the Parsha. Why is it so essential that the time of the redemption be concealed?

Lessons from Yosef's Wagons. What made him choose the wagons as the siman for Yaakov, how did he know that was the best choice to reassure Yaakov?

Ideas in the understanding the Yetzer Harah, based on the Chiddushei Helev and the Ohr Yisrael. Why did the Sar Hamashkim start bashing Yosef when he referred him to Pharaoh? Is the Yetzer Harah our taavah or a force of tumah? 

Shiur on Chanukah based on a beautiful piece by Rav Gedaliah Schorr. Parallels between the story of Schem and Dinah, and the Galus Yavan. What differentiates Galus Yavan from the other three?

Why is the story of Mechiras Yosef written in a way that gives Apikorsim so much ammunition? A vort based on an idea found in the Sefer Shomer Emunim.

Chazal teach that Timna was a princess who wanted to join Avraham's Mishpacha, so she became a concubine by Eliphaz. Eliphaz was a Talmid of Yitzchak, arguably a chaver of Iyov. Yet between the two of them they had a son Amalek. Why would the root of all evil come from the best of Eisav's descendants? An amazing Yesod from Rav Tzadok Hakohen and the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, about how the grea...

Why did Yaakov want to marry Rachel over Leah? The approach of Rav Aharon Kotler to the unique midah of Silence of Rachel Imeinu.

This is one of my all time favorite Divrei Torah. I have always taken tremendous Chizuk from it, and hope you will as well. If Yaakov is the Paradigm of Emes, why do most of his stories in the Parsha seem to involve trickery? A perspective of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky.

Why isn't the story of Avraham's first  Nisayon, involving Nimrod and the Fiery Furnace, in the Chumash? An approach from Rav Simcha Zissel Broide.

Why did Hashem have to bring a Mabul to destroy the world? Why not just kill the people of the generation? A lesson from Rav Elyah Lopian.

Mussar Lessons to learn from Naaseh Adam. Why does the Torah use a language that could be misleading?

Found this fascinating Medrash about the מיתה of Moshe. Why would he want to continue life as a bird or an animal? Amazing insight of Rav Shach.

How do we keep a growth mindset in old age? The meaning inherent in everything in Torah, and the need to find it.

How did Moshe telling the people he turned 120 that day make his passing easier for them to handle? An insight from the Chiddushei Halev into the Sforno. 

Why did the Jews need a new bris? Why only now when they entered Eretz Yisrael? Why was Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh Lazeh introduced at this time? Some amazing insights of the Chiddushei Halev and the Sum Derech.

How could the Midrash say the world was created for the Mitzvah of Bikkurim? Why do we have such a big event when we bring them to Yerushalayim? Why do we read Arami Oved Avi when we bring them, and why is that the parsha we read at the seder? Two amazing insights into the centrality of what we can learn from this Mitzvah.