Vaychi 5779

“Haste like water, do not take more…” (Bereishit 49:4)

Rashi: The haste and the confusion with which you hurried to show your anger, like these waters, which hurry in their flow. Therefore you will not get the added privileges which had been due to you.”

Pane Relief

(From the book Dvar Chevron section I, siman 107)

David was in mid-discussion with a few of his roommates, when a three of his friends suddenly burst into the room.

Without waiting for an introduction, the three boys began to cry out “David, we need your help!”

Miketz 5779

בגלל שיוסף הוציא דיבה על אחיו נגזר עליו להיות בבית האסורים עשר שנים (שמות רבה). מכל זה אנו רואין חמר האיסור של חטא הלשון

(שמירת הלשון, ח"ב, פרק ז)

Tomato Source

The students sat silently in their seats, their eyes riveted on their teacher, Rabbi David. They were eager to hear the resolution to the question which had developed, during the course of the lesson. Rabbi David’s voice rose in excitement, as the tapestry he wove before the class began to take shape.

Vayeshev 5779

“…and they could not speak to him peacefully” (Bereishit 36:4)

Rashi: From their disgrace, we learn their praise, [because this indicates] that they did not have one thing in their mouth, and another thing in their heart.

The Ceremonial Offer

Mazal tov! Shlomi and Tamar welcomed their sweet little baby boy into the world. Within minutes, Shlomi and Tamar were on the phone with their parents, sharing the wonderful news of the birth of their first child. After hanging up with his parents, Shlomi picked up the phone again, and called his uncle Avraham.

“It’s a boy!” Shlomi exclaimed.

“That’s wonderful, Shlomi,” responded Uncle Avraham. “That means that I’ll get to be the sandek!”

“Sandek?!” stammered Shlomi.

Vayishlach 5779

הַנִּזְהָר שֶׁלֹּא יְסוֹבֵב צַעַר מֵחֲמָתוֹ לַזּוּלַת יְסַיְּעוּהוּ מִן הַשָּׂמִים שֶׁרְצוֹנוֹ יְקֻיַּם כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בְּיַעֲקֹב אֲבִינוֹ: 'וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ' – שֶׁהִצְטַעֵר שֶׁלֹּא יַזִּיק אֲחֵרִים, זָכָה שֶׁלֹּא בָּאָה תַּקָּלָה עַל יָדוֹ..."

(סֵפֶר תּוֹכַחַת חַיִּים לַגה"ק רַבִּי חַיִּים פָלָאגִ'י זצ"ל)

Open Door Policy

In Yeshivat Aish Kodesh, the students have off for an hour in the afternoon. Many of the students take the opportunity to catch up on sleep. One day, one student, Yaakov, returned to his dorm room, after lunch, and lay down on his bed. He closed his eyes, when he suddenly remembered that he had forgotten something in the storage room, upstairs. He ran upstairs, retrieved his forgotten object, and hurried to leave the storage room, in order to capitalize on what remained of his break. He was about to leave the storage room, when the door swung shut on its own.

Vayetze 5779

“…Just because you are my relative, should you work for me for free? Tell me what your wages are.”

(Bereishit 29:15)

Honorary Chairman

One evening, Udi sat down to do his homework. He opened his backpack to take out his math book, when he realized, much to his chagrin, that he had left his book in school. He raced out the front door, and ran the few blocks to his school building. To his relief, the lights were still on.

Toldot 5779

"איש יודע ציד"- לצוד ולרמות

(רש"י) 

Letters of the Law

Shimon turned the page of the newspaper that he was holding, and let the paper rest against the counter, in front of him. The clang of the store bell drew his attention away from the sports section, and onto the two young men who had just entered the store. “We’d like to buy a mezuza,” they informed Shimon. “Can you show us something high quality, mehadrin?”

“Of course, of course.” Shimon responded. The customers’ impeccable Hebrew accent was not lost on Shimon. He hurried to find them what they were looking for. “Here, a mehadrin level mezuza. That will be four hundred shekel.”

Chayei Sara 5779

…and Lavan ran toward the man 

Rashi: Why did he run, and for what did he run? Because [as the verse below states] “and it was when he saw the nose ring,” [Lavan] said “This man [Eliezer] is wealthy, and he set his eyes upon his money.”

(Bereishit 24:29)

Taxi Collector

Dani gave a sigh of relief, when the taxi he hailed pulled up in front of him. It was late at night, and it was just time to go home already. Dani opened the car door, and sank into the faux leather upholstery. After exchanging some pleasantries with the driver, Dani closed his eyes, and allowed himself to relax.

When the taxi was a few minutes from Dani’s house, he put his hand into his pocket, in order to find money, to pay the driver. To Dani’s chagrin, his wallet slipped from his hand, and fell onto the taxi floor. He bent down, and began to feel around for his wallet, but couldn’t manage to locate it in the dark. Soon, the taxi came to a stop, in front of Dani’s house.

Vayera 5779

[Abraham tells the travelers] “and I will get a piece of bread” and then [the Torah] writes “and Abraham ran to the cattle” [in order to prepare a substantial meal for his guests]. Rabbi Eliezer said that we learn from here that righteous people say a little and do a lot, and the opposite is true for the wicked

(Bava Metzia, 87, 71)

Fishy Business

It was just a few days before Yom Kippur. Menachem, the gabbai of the Ohel Avraham synagogue, finished praying maariv, and closed his siddur. He was about to head for the door, when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Mr. Levi, the synagogue treasurer, with a serious look on his face.

Lech Lecha 5779

"אל נא תהי מריבה ביני ובינך"

Beverage Leverage

(From the book Derech Chevron, part 1, siman 72)

What a simcha! Shmuel, the Levi’s youngest son, was finally getting married! Friends and family of the young couple vied for the opportunity to host sheva brachot events in celebration of the marriage.

Noach 5779

"ואך את דמכם לנפשתיכם אדרש – אף ההורג את עצמו"

(ע"פ רש"י) 

Smoke Screen

It all started a few years back. Menachem was sitting with a group of friends, one evening. As the boys began to talk, one boy, Yaakov dug into his pocket, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He held out the box to the rest of the group, and each boy took one, except for Menachem.

“Menachem, why aren’t you taking one?” Yaakov asked.

“I… I don’t smoke” Menachem responded, hesitantly.

“Why don’t you just try it once?” urged Baruch. “What do you think will happen?”

B'reshit 5779

“and [He]… caused the man to sleep, and he slept…”

(Bereshit 2:21)

Child(don’t)care

Shani Levi opened the car door, and sank down into the seat. She smiled at her husband, David, and thanked him again for his great idea. He was the one who had suggested getting their twelve year old neighbor, Baruch, to watch the Levi’s two young children, so that Shani and David could go out together that evening, to celebrate their anniversary. It had been so nice for Shani and David to get out of the house for a little while, and enjoy each other’s company.

As the car came within a block of the Levi’s house, Shani’s phone rang. It was Naomi, the Levi’s neighbor. “Uh, Shani, are you home?” Naomi began.

“Actually, no. Why do you ask?” Shani inquired.

Shmini Atzeret - Simchat Torah 5779

Elevated Priorities

Rabbi Asher Weiss, shlita relates an incident that happened one year, during the Simchat Torah dancing. Rabbi Yisrael, a respected, learned older man, was greatly enjoying the exalted atmosphere. He sang along heartily with the rest of the congregation, savoring the opportunity to display his great love for the Torah. One of the other congregants approached Rabbi Yisrael, and handed him a Torah scroll. Rabbi Yisrael’s heart leapt, at the opportunity to dance with the Torah on this special day. He clutched the scroll tightly, as teared welled up in his eyes.

Sukkot - Megilat Kohelet 5779

“I provided myself with various musical instruments… it was clear that it was all futile” (Kohelet 2:8-11)

Radio Interference

The students had arrived earlier that day, bearing expressions of confidence, seriousness and excitement. They filed into their dorm rooms, and began unpacking freshly washed clothing, delicately scented with fabric softener and wistful prayers for a good school year.

That evening, the entire student body gathered together, for the first assembly of the year. The principal went through the usual welcome, review of policies, procedures, and other miscellany. Before the meeting ended, he added one final note.

Sukkot 5779

Undercover Mitzva

Yossi and Leah had been planning for weeks. The logistics, the cooking, the packing, the traveling. It would all be worth it once they arrived in Jerusalem for Sukkot, and had the opportunity to spend the holiday there. Yossi had spoken with the owner of the apartment which Yossi and Leah would rent, and the owner had assured Yossi that he had a fully kosher sukkah, which would be set up and ready for use.

Shabbat Shuvah 5779

Every person must engage in acts of kindness and have mercy on others, and as a result of this, his sins will be atoned, as it says "with kindness and truth sins will be atoned," and they will have mercy on him from Heaven, and increase his life, as our sages said "all who have mercy on others, they have mercy on him from Heaven."

(Mishneh Berurah, Laws of Yom Kippur, 615, se'if 6 2, Sha'ar Hatziyun)

Charity Clarity

(From the book Kol Mishalotecha, parshat Vayera)

Yossi is a very busy man. However, he makes sure to take some time out of every week to help people who are going through a tough time. The local social service agency knows him well, and regularly refers him to families in need.

Rosh-Hashana 5779

Sound Effect

(Based on Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim section 2)

Shacharit prayers had just ended. The congregants stood in their places expectantly, eyes focused eagerly on the men standing at the bima. Many held their fingers in place in their machzorim, pointing to the prayers recited before the blowing of the shofar.

Ki Tavo 5778

Negative Developments

Thank you to the husband of Ayala (not her real name) in the story, who shared this story, as well as the written response of Rabbi Yaakov Ariel and the oral response of Rabbi Asher Weiss.

Ayala smiled happily. She had just spent the past few hours angling her camera, adjusting lights, and telling people to smile, trying to capture the highlights of the Bat Mitzva party which she had been hired to photograph. She enjoyed photography, and got a particular thrill from turning meaningful moments into treasured memories, for her clients to enjoy in the future. She packed her equipment into her car, and drove home, eager to start working on the Bat Mitzva album, the next day.

Ki Tetze 5778

The expensive trip to Meron

In preparation for Rosh Hashana, a few teenage boys decided to organize a trip to Meron, so that they could pray at the grave of Rabi Shimon Bar Yochai. They called a taxi company, and requested a van, large enough to accommodate the group.

Shoftim 5778

“This is the matter of the murderer, who shall flee there, and live, who will strike his friend without intent…”

(Devarim 19:4)

Sick and Tired

(From the book “Sichot L’Sefer Bamidbar,” written by Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzal, shlita,
sicha 29, page 315)

All was peaceful and quiet on Narkis Street. Until Yossi moved in. Narkis Street was a friendly enough neighborhood, and the locals were pleased to see that that vacant apartment in building 14 finally had a new tenant. Their excitement didn’t last long. Within days, it became obvious that Yossi’s driving habits left much to be desired. The first time Yossi sped through the street, ignoring the speed limit, the cross walk, or anything else that seemed to be in his way, the neighbors dismissed it as a one-time event. It didn’t take long to realize, though, that Yossi was completely oblivious to the fact that there might be other people on the street.

Re'e 5778

This segment is In memory of Maran Harav Avraham Yitchak Hacohen Kook zt’l,  who’s yahrtzeit is on the 3rd of Elul. The questions and answers used this week are taken from his works on halacha. 

Charity Disparity

(Orach Mishpat, page 234)

Yosef is a physics teacher, with an excellent reputation. Throughout his city, it’s known that no student, whether adult or child, comes away without understanding the material which Yosef has taught. Therefore, many people come to Yosef for private tutoring.

One evening, Yosef got a call from a non-Jew who lived in his area. “Hello, my name is Sam,” the man said. “My son, Nate, could use some tutoring in physics. Do you think you could help him out?”