Korach 5754Volume 16 · Issue 32

Embrace the Positive

source for evil because there are no two existences, Heaven forbid. Existence is one. Existence is the will of God, and He is One with none except for Him. “True is our King, there is nil besides Him” (Aleinu Prayer).

In On the Torah IV · Chapter 154View Sefer

Pinchas 5754Volume 16 · Issue 34

Cure to Foolishness

desolate appearance is due exclusively to the sin at Sheettim. The Talmud states clearly that this—the counsel of Balaam to Balak to cause Israel to be immoral—is what inverted all the blessings into curse, excluding houses of prayer and study (Sanhedrin 105b-106a).

In On the Torah V · Chapter 182View Sefer

Nitzavim-Vayelech 5753Volume 16 · Issue 4

Cast into the Depths of the Sea

…h you this day,” and it will be fulfilled in all of us our prayer, “Inscribe for a good life all the members of Your covenant

In On the Torah V · Chapter 191View Sefer

Miketz Chanukah 5756Volume 17 · Issue 13

Understanding of the Soul

…pear…. God, Lord, Master of Hosts! Until when will You be wrathful with the prayer of Your nation? You have fed them bread of tears and given them tears to drink in large measure. You have made us an object of strife to…

Bo 5756Volume 17 · Issue 17

Tormented & Transcended

relates to the Sabbath here has a grasp of what will happen there. As the Talmud states (Shabbos 118a), “Anyone who brings delight to the Sabbath is granted a heritage without borders.” As we say in the Musaf Prayer, “Those who bring it delight shall eternally inherit glory.”

Yisro 5756Volume 17 · Issue 19

Wisdom of Faith

The Magein Avraham (60:2) cites from the Arizal that one should bear in mind the commandment to remember the Standing at Sinai during the blessing before Shema in the morning. Today it can be found in Sephardic prayer books.

Mishpatim-Shekalim 5756Volume 17 · Issue 20

Currency of Aspiration

This had been the condition of Israel. For a time, Haman was right—until the decree was torn up due to the power of prayer, the fearsome power of Mordechai and Esther. But it had been decreed. “Let it be written to annihilate them.” Haman had sought to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate the entire Jewish People from young to old, children and women

Ki Sisa-Parah 5756Volume 17 · Issue 23

Many Pursued by One

Let us end with the prayer of mourners (Berachos 19a), “May it be Your will, God our Lord, that You fence our breaches and the breaches of Your entire nation, the family of Israel, with mercy

Acharei-Kedoshim 5756Volume 17 · Issue 25

Creates and Governs

All the Days of the Omer are forty-nine, the numerical value of middah, attribute. As stated even in prayer books, they encompass all attributes. There are seven attributes, and exponentially—each in relation to each of the others—there are seven times seven, and they reach forty-nine.

Korach 5756Volume 17 · Issue 30

Miracle of Necessity

The term mighty is where the Talmud derives the immense power of communal prayer, “The Lord indeed never despises the mighty” (Iyov 36:5; Berachos 8a). And every community of Israel always retains the power to activate this mightiness.

Chukas 5756Volume 17 · Issue 31

Reason of Reasons

The Men of the Great Assembly who formulated our prayers generally juxtapose the Enlivening of the Dead with praising God as having no comparison. In the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer, “Who is like You, Author of powerful deeds, and Who is comparable to You, King Who brings death and enlivens.” And in the first blessing before the Reading of Shema Sabbath morning, “None is comparable to You, our Deliverer

Devarim 5756Volume 17 · Issue 34

Silent Embrace

…s….” By law, this portion must be read before the Ninth of Av (Rambam, Hilchos Tefillah 13:2). These words are not so good. Rashi explains that they include the words of admonishment stated in continuation. But they were spoken by…

Ki Savo 5746Volume 17 · Issue 4

Passport to Life

Reading on the Sabbath, we read a portion of Prophets, the Haphtarah. Generally, it relates to the Torah Reading or the topic of the day. But during these seven weeks, the section of Prophets relates to consolation (Rambam Hilchos Tefillah 13:19).

Vayeira 5756Volume 17 · Issue 8

Rallying Point

passage, the fearsome effects of flattery are enumerated. “Rabbi Elazar said, “Anyone in whom there is flattery brings wrath upon the world, as it says (Iyov 36:13), “And the flatterers at heart establish wrath.” Moreover, his prayer goes unheard….”

In On the Torah I · Chapter 13View Sefer

Toldos 5757Volume 18 · Issue 10

Paired Riders

Let us merit fulfillment of our prayer, “Obliterate Seir and his father-in-law, and let liberators ascend to Zion

Vayishlach 5757Volume 18 · Issue 11

Force of a Bowshot

Divine Name Elokim, Lord, signifies that God is Master of all forces. This is stated in the Code of Jewish Law (Tur and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, chapter 5) and nowadays it can even be found cited in prayer books.

Miketz Chanukah 5757Volume 18 · Issue 13

This is Chanukah

…bless his army and favor the work of his hands.” Rashi explains it as a prayer for the twelve Hasmonean descendants and Elazar who stood alone against the myriads of the Greek army. From the very onset, it meant…

Vaeira 5757Volume 18 · Issue 17

Monumental Transition

begun to show to your servant Your greatness,” which Rashi defines as His attribute of goodness. Avraham Avinu personified this attribute, and corresponding to the praise of the Great One, we refer to the Creator in the Shemoneh Esrei Prayer as Lord of Avraham.

Ki Seitzei 5756Volume 18 · Issue 2

The Focused Mind

…the judgment and by which we received the Torah. As stated in the Musaf Prayer of Rosh Hashanah, by the Blessing of Shofar, “With thunder and lightning, You were revealed upon them, and with the sound of the shofar You…

Tetzaveh 5757Volume 18 · Issue 22

Doubled Purim

matter of faith and established upon us…. He is the One Who performs inscrutable acts of greatness and innumerable acts of wonders.” This is the wording of the verse (Iyov 9:10), but some versions add in the prayer, acts of wonders and miracles.