Naso 5765Volume 1 · Issue 14

Torah and Prayer

Of the Exodus it says, “God took us out of Egypt… with great fear (Devarim 26:8),” which the sages interpret in the Passover Haggadah as a reference to the revelation of the Divine Presence. In other words, the revelation of the Divine Presence itself extricated us from Egyptian servitude.

Shelach 5765Volume 1 · Issue 16

Slander: The Ultimate Lack of Intelligence

From there downward is the system of traits—bestowing goodness and restricting it, honoring, love, fear, glory, and so on. They define the wants and desires of a person—what he seeks and strives for, what he loves and despises, what he pursues and what he respects, what is important to him and what is insignificant

In The Three Weeks · Chapter 29View Sefer

VaYakhel 5765Volume 1 · Issue 6

Half-Shekel: The Value of Life

…blessing recited upon seeing one—“Who parted from His glory to those who fear Him,” or by a gentile king, “Who gave of His glory to flesh and blood (Berachos 58a),”—is most glorified when enthroned in his palace, as it…

In Chanukah & Purim · Chapter 24View Sefer

Pekudei-Shekalim 5765Volume 1 · Issue 7

Adar: Reversal of Fortune

whole world exalted the Jewish People (cf. Esther 9:3), and all the ends of the earth knew of the miracle (cf. Megillah 11a) as it says, “And many from the nations of the land were converting for the fear of the Jewish People fell upon them (Esther 8:17).” Why then did Mordechai mint a new currency and what additional benefit did he wish to achieve?

Vayeishev 5760Volume 20 · Issue 13

Burning Unconsumed

The Event of Mount Sinai, whose revelation began with the Burning Bush, endured in its original state as long as there were prophets. Prophets were granted to us because we expressed our deathly fear of continuing both to hear God’s voice and to see the great fire at Sinai. In response, God provided us with prophets who would be like Moshe Rabbeinu (Shemos 20:16; Devarim 18:15-18).

Vayigash 5760Volume 20 · Issue 15

Enthroned by Heaven

shall go before us, because this man Moshe who brought us up out of the Land of Egypt—we know not what is become of him.” (Shemos 32:1).

Vaeira 5760Volume 20 · Issue 18

On the Wings of Faith

Clearly, the fear was that faith would be uprooted. And the Creator took this part of the Holy Chariot, although we were unworthy of the entire chariot, and with this part alone, with the faith that Avraham Avinu planted, He redeemed

Emor 5760Volume 20 · Issue 29

Basking in His Radiance

self-contradictory” (Shabbos 30b). “Is it not enough for you that your words contradict the words of your father David, but they also contradict each other” (ibid. 30a)? But the sages found that it begins and ends with the fear of Heaven, and ultimately, it was saved, remaining one of the twenty-four books of the Torah.

Korach 5760Volume 20 · Issue 35

Twilight of the Future

does not depend on the blue strand. And since we have no blue strand, it is not considered actively nullifying the mitzvah of the blue strand. But this is a separate subject. In any event, there were those whose fear of Heaven required them not to wear tzitzis, Heaven forbid. It was simply forbidden for them because the white strand depends on the blue one.

Balak 5760Volume 20 · Issue 37

From Devastation to Kingship

Glory is the essence of kingship. One who sees a king recites a blessing to the One Who apportioned of His glory to those who fear him, or by a gentile king, to the One Who gave of His glory to flesh and blood (Berachos 58a).

Haazinu 5760Volume 20 · Issue 6

Book of Originality

At all other times, one can delay repentance. The insight of Rabbi Eliezer, “Let him repent today, lest he dies tomorrow,” is novel (Avos 2:10; Shabbos 153a). The concern of dying tomorrow requires fear of Heaven. There is truly a concern long term, and the Talmud states even short term (Gittin 28b). For such a severe and crucial matter as repentance, even tomorrow should be a concern. It can certainly happen

Vayeitzei 5761Volume 21 · Issue 11

Crown of Torah

Everyone was completely alone, sensing his existence entirely in himself, with only nothingness and nonexistence outside himself. The fear confined him far more than any prison in the world.

Vayishlach 5761Volume 21 · Issue 12

Out of Bounds

“The concept of this mitzvah is that we are commanded to publicize this true faith throughout the world, and fear no attack from any attacker.

Vayigash 5761Volume 21 · Issue 15

Tragic Month

Prophecy had been given to us to continue the Event of Mount Sinai. There, we expressed our deathly fear of hearing the voice of God any longer (Shemos 20:16). From then on, Moshe Rabbeinu spoke the word of God. And this is fulfilled in every prophet.

Yisro 5761Volume 21 · Issue 20

The Voice of Sinai

Due to the fearsome Voice, we were gripped with extreme fear, and it alone caused our souls to flutter away (cf. Shabbos 88b). Of this, we said, “You speak with us and we will hear, but let not the Lord speak with us lest we die.”

Emor 5761Volume 21 · Issue 27

The Fruit Tree

The Torah is revealed in these two facets. One is the facet of honor. “Honor means nothing but Torah” (Avos 6:3). Torah is to be learned as it was given—with fear, trepidation, quaking, and exertion (Berachos 22a), with the same thunder and lightning that accompanied the Giving of the Torah.

Rosh Hashanah 5761Volume 21 · Issue 5

Day of Remembrance

The underlying concept is that God does not judge man except according to his deeds at that time (Rosh Hashanah 16a). On Rosh Hashanah, man is examined as he appears on this day. If now he trembles in fear, if now he is reminded of the first day and walks by the light of God’s face, he is now judged to live.

Vayigash 5762Volume 22 · Issue 13

Illuminated Prayer

“Take this large sum of money, and divide it. Half is for you, and the other half use to bribe all those you fear.”

Beshalach 5762Volume 22 · Issue 17

Doorway to Heaven

“This is aside from his acknowledgment of the Creator’s great kindness toward those who perform His will—that He delivered us from slavery to freedom and great honor, in merit of our Fathers who delighted in the fear of His Name.”

Terumah 5762Volume 22 · Issue 20

Pivoted Coercion

He then presents his offer (v.9). “If it pleases the king, let it be inscribed to annihilate them, and,” fear no loss, because you will only benefit, “I will weigh out ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who perform the duties, to bring to the treasuries of the king.” This concludes his words.