Thursday, December 11, 2025

attention to the little things and the little people is the key to greatness

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At the end of the parsha we have the story of Yosef's interpretation of the dreams of the Sar haMashkim and the Sar ha'Ofim, but bef...

kesones pasim and distinctive dress

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וַיָּבֹא יַעֲקֹב שָׁלֵם after leaving Lavan's home is interpreted by Chasam Sofer as an acronym for שׁם, לשׁון, מלבּושׁ. Yaakov preserved h...
Wednesday, December 03, 2025

tefilah makes a world of difference

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Rashi writes that Yaakov prepared for his meeting with Eisav in three ways, התקין עצמו לג׳ דברים: לדורון, למלחמה, לתפילה.  Ramban mentions ...
Wednesday, November 26, 2025

hiding right under Eisav's nose

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Rashi in last week's parsha quotes the gemara in Meg 17a that Yaakov spent 14 years in yeshivat Shemv'Eiver before heading to Lavan...
Monday, November 24, 2025

the "minhag" of adding a bit of water to the cup before putting in the oil for your chanukah menorah

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I don't buy those pre-filled cups with oil for my menorah.  I do things the old fashioned way and pour in the oil myself.  Unlike the pr...
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Thursday, November 20, 2025

Rebbi and Antoninus as the answer to Rivka's worries

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Rivka was troubled by the pains she experienced in pregnancy, וַיִּתְרֹֽצְצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה ...
Thursday, November 13, 2025

Are the Avos in Chevron this Shabbos along with the thousands of others who are there?

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Many people make a point of spending this Shabbos in Chevron in commemoration of the episode of Avraham Avinu buying Me'aras haMachpeila...
Thursday, November 06, 2025

hidur, zerizus, mitzvah bo yoseir m'bshlucho -- which takes precedence over the other?

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What takes precedence, zerizus or hidur? Is it better to do a mitzvah faster, or to do it in a nicer way? For example, if you can take a l...
3 comments: