Mussar HaTorah

The Gemara in Sotah (11a) tells us Pharoah had 3 advisors Billam, Iyov, and Yisro. He asked them about what to do with Beni Yisroel's exponential growth. Billam said to kill them and he was ultimately killed for that suggestion. Iyov said nothing and he was giving tremendous troubles in his life. Yisro said they should be saved and was rewarded to have decedents as members of Sanhedrin. It seems t...

Welcome to the Mussar haTorah podcast for Parshas VaYechi. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. Yaakov on his deathbed asked Yosef to swear that he would not bury him in Egypt but he should take Yaakov's remains to Eretz Yisroel and be buried there. The Ramban asks why did Yaakov insist...

Welcome to the Mussar haTorah podcast for Parshas Vayigash. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. In this week's parsha, Yosef reveals himself to his brothers. During this revelation he says the following: וְעַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙ הֵ֔נָּה כִּ֖י הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיְשִׂימֵ֨נִ...

Picture this: Yosef, after years in an Egyptian prison, finally stands before Pharaoh. This could be his moment of triumph, his chance to shine. Pharaoh says, "I've heard you can interpret dreams." Now, imagine being in Yosef's shoes. After years of suffering, finally a chance at freedom. What would you say? But Yosef's response is remarkable. He immediately says: "Biladai - It's not through me. E...

In this week's parsha, we encounter a fascinating moment that reveals profound insights into genuine religious consciousness. The Torah tells us that when Yosef was sold as a slave to Potifar, something remarkable happened: "וַיַּרְא אֲדֹנָיו כִּי ה' אִתּוֹ" - "his master saw that Hashem was with him." Rav Shlomo Wolbe raises an intriguing question that cuts to the heart of our religious practice....

Welcome to the mussar haTorah podcasts for Parshas VaYishlach. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. The parsha has the famous incident of Yaakov wrestling with the "stranger". Rav Shmuel Beirnbaum z'l asks a question I never considered. Why didn't this "stranger" get into any fights wit...

The medrash tells us on the night Rachel was supposed to be married to Yaakov Avenu, her father Lavan switched her sister Leah with Rachel at the last moment. This was something Yaakov anticipated and had given Rachel signs to identify herself. Rachel, sensing that Leah would be embarrassed, gave the signs to Leah so there would be no embarrassment. Later on in the pasha we see the story with Rach...

> כִּשְׁמֹ֤עַ עֵשָׂו֙ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אָבִ֔יו וַיִּצְעַ֣ק צְעָקָ֔ה גְּדֹלָ֥ה וּמָרָ֖ה עַד־מְאֹ֑ד וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְאָבִ֔יו בָּרְכֵ֥נִי גַם־אָ֖נִי אָבִֽי׃ > When Eisov heard his father’s words, he wailed a most loud and bitter cry, and he said to his father, Bless me too, my father. > (Berashis 27:34) Esav's crying was not the only expression of grief in Tanach. A few centuries later Moredchai does the sa...

In the discussion between Eliezer and Rivkah, Eliezer asks Rivkah if there is a place to sleep overnight in her father's house. Rivkah replies that there is a place to stay. Rashi explains Rivkah is saying there is a place to stay many nights. When Lavan hears about Eliezer visiting he says "Why should you stand outside?" Onkelos understands the word "makom" as "a kosher place". Meaning there was...

This week the podcast is dedicated as refuah shelama for Meir Chaim ben Esther. In the Parsha we have the interesting scene when Avraham argues with Hashem regarding the fate of Sedom. Avraham (18:27) says the following: > Avraham replied and said, "Behold, please, I have resolved to speak to my Master,⁠ though I am but dust and ashes. Rashi points out that the use of the words "dust and ashes" re...

On Sunday, I was looking through some files and found the following dvar torah from a mailing list I have since joined called Mussar Moment. I read it again and still find it very powerful and I wanted to share it with you. "Lech Licha,” Avrohom Avinu's journey upon Hashem's request, was one of our forefather's ten tests. Hashem promised Avrohom much reward for this action. The challenge of this s...

The first pasuk of the parsha says: > אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃ > This is the line of Noah.—Noah was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noah walked with God.— There are three different ways the Rishonim use to explain what the Torah means by *Noah walking with Hashem*. One of the three is Targum who...

The first parsha of the Torah says (in perek 3 pasuk 3): וּמִפְּרִ֣י הָעֵץ֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַגָּן֒ אָמַ֣ר אֱלֹהִ֗ים לֹ֤א תֹֽאכְלוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תִגְּע֖וּ בּ֑וֹ פֶּן־תְּמֻתֽוּן׃ But of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the Garden, Elohim said, You shall not eat from it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. Rashi comments that Chavah added extra restrictions to what Hashem...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Netzavim-Vayelich. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. In this week's double parsha, Hashem tells Beni Yisroel of a time when they will be exiled and while they are there they will "call to mind". The Sforno comments that this "calling...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Ki Savo. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. In the parsha, Moshe says "הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃". This translates to "Keep silence and listen, Israel. This day you have...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Ki Tatze. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. At the beginning of the Parsha we have the interesting case of the Ben Sorer u'Moreh. Rashi comments that he is put to death because of what he will become. However, there is a rule we see i...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Shoftim. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. I was in Chicago this past week for a niece's wedding and my brother-in-law has a sefer that caught my eye, Rav Pam on Chumash. This is from that sefer and is sponsored l'zacher nishmas Henoc...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Reeh. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. In this week's parsha, Moshe Rabbenu starts by telling us blessings and curses will be given. When it comes to the brachos the Torah uses the word "asher" meaning "that". The Targum translates t...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Eikev. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. There is a very interesting passuk in this week's Parsha warning Beni Yisroel when they come into the land not to forget how and who gave them all the goodness (8:17): וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas V'Eschanan. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. In this week's parsha Moshe Rabbenu continues speaking to Beni Yisroel in his final address to the nation and the Aseres Hadibros are repeated: וְלֹ֥א תַחְמֹ֖ד אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֶ֑ךָ  וְלֹ֨א תִתְ...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for Parshas Devarim. Join us as we explore the weekly Parsha, uncovering valuable insights and striving to become the best versions of ourselves through Mussar teachings. At the beginning of the Parsha, and Sefer, Moshe tells the people (1:16-17) about his setting up judges: I commanded your judges at that time, to say, ‘‘Listen between your brothers and you a...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast for parshas Mattos Masei where we learn to be the best version of ourselves through the Mussar we can find in the weekly Parsha. In this week's parsha the Sevatim of Gad and Reuven ask Moshe if they can have their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The Shevatim were always going to help the rest of Beni Yisroel take over Eretz Yisroel. They v...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast where we learn to be the best version of ourselves through the Mussar we can find in the weekly Parsha. This is Season 1; Episode 2: Parshas Pinchas 5784. One of the things we see in this parsha are the various korbanos musaf that we are required to bring on various holidays. For the Chag of Succos we see an interesting thing the number of cows starts at 13 an...

Welcome to the Mussar HaTorah Podcast where we learn to be the best version of ourselves through the Mussar we can find in the weekly Parsha. This is Season 1; Episode 1: Parshas Balak 5784. In the parsha we have amazing scene of Billam having a conversation with his donkey. Where the donkey rebuked Billam because he had a lack of appreciation for everything the donkey did for him. Billam was coul...