Bereishit: And Behold, It Was Very Stable ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
Article Abstract: The word טוב appears more times in Parashat Breishit than in any other – but what does the word actually mean? "Good"...
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Bereishit
Bereishit: Naked before Hashem ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas בְּרֵאשִׁית Naked before Hashem עַרוּמִים: naked עָרוּם: cunning עַרָמָה: a pile of grains וַיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲרוּמִּים...
Noach: Aspect Of The Divine ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas נֹחַ Aspect of the Divine חֹל: to profane חוּלִין: profane חִלוֹנִי: secular חֵיל: wall, soldier, valor, tremble חוֹל: sand...
Noach: A New Beginning Delayed? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
Article abstract for Parashat Noach: In his Sefer Hashorashim, Radak assigns one word in one verse in our Parashah to two different roots...
Noach: Hark! Two Arks! ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
We are all familiar with two very different arks that are mentioned in the Bible: The Ark of Noah and the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of...
Lech Lecha: Run, Lot Run ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
Article abstract for Lech Lecha: In this week's Parashah, we are introduced to Abraham's nephew, Lot. What is the meaning of his name,...
Lech Lecha: Names of a People ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
Reuven Chaim Klein My wife and I were once traveling in the subway in Los Angeles, and a friendly African-American stopped us to ask,...
Lech Lecha: Energizing the Tired and Exhausted ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
In one of Isaiah’s prophecies (that happens to be read as the Haftarah for Parshat Lech Lecha), he describes G-d as, “The Giver of...
Lech Lecha: Where Are You Coming from and Where Are You Going? ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas לֶךְ לְךָ Where Are You Coming from and Where Are You Going? לֵךְ: go לְךָ: to you הַלָכָה: the rules of how I lead my life...
Vayeira: Abraham’s Legacy of Paradox (Not language-connected) ~Yehoshua Steinberg
Which is the true Abraham - the Abraham of the beginning of this week's Torah Sidra, in which defends the wicked Sodomites in a...
Vayeira: The Man With Enough Light ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
The Hebrew word for a blind person is iver. Cognates of that word appear in such Biblical quotations as “Do not put a stumbling block in...
Chayei Sarah: Tasteful Tasting ~ The Wonders of the Holy Tongue
Article abstract: Parashat Chayei Sarah contains two rare words: 1. Eliezer, Abraham's servant, in requesting a drink of water from...
Chayei Sarah: Take a Bow ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
The two seemingly unrelated stories in this week’s Parshah find common ground in bowing. When telling of Abraham buying the plot that...
Chayei Sarah: Maybe Yes, Maybe No ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
The word “maybe” in English is neutral; it belies not the speaker’s preference regarding the possibility of which he speaks. The same is...
Chayei Sarah: Beyond the Call of Duty ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Beyond the Call of Duty גְמִילַת חַסָדִים (גמ”ח): bestowing kindness גָמָל: camel גִימֶל: letter gimel הַגוֹמֶל: gomel ...
Toldot: Heal, Esau! ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
The battle between Esau and Jacob, first introduced to us in Parashat Toldot, is far beyond sibling rivalry or a personal struggle - it...
Toldot: Names of a People ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
My wife and I were once travelling in the subway in Los Angeles, and a friendly African-American stopped us to ask, “Hey! Are you guys...
Toldot: The Smell of Truth ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshasתּוֹלְדוֹת The Smell of Truth רֵיחַ: smell רוּחַ: wind, spirit רֵיחַיִם: millstone, grinder יְרִיחוֹ: Yericho יָרֵחַ: moon...
Vayeitzei: The Unique Flock ~ The Wonders of the Holy Tongue
Our Parashah, Vayeitzei, focuses in the main on the life of Jacob our father, a shepherd by profession. Jacob was not the first of the...
Vayeitzei: Like a Rock ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
I’m not a geologist, nor do I pretend to be one. But I do think that we can draw some fascinating insights into the Holy Language by...
Vayeitzei: All Along The Watchtower ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas וַיֵצֵא All along the Watchtower מִצְפֶּה: watchtower צָפוּי: foreseen צָפוּן: hidden צָפוֹן: north מְצַפֶּה: expect צַףְ: float...
Vayishlach: Quiet, Deaf Men Planning to Plow! ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
Article abstract: The Torah in Parashat Vayishlach recounts the violation of Dinah Bat Yaakov by Shechem Ben Hamor. Then, Scripture...
Vayishlach: The Gift of Giving ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
The Gift of Giving Ahead of the epic meeting of brothers, Jacob sent his older brother Esau quite a generous tribute, consisting of 550...
Vayishlach: Angels and Agents ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
A “messenger of G-d” refers to either an angel or a prophet, but what about a “messenger of Jacob”? When Jacob sent a message of peace to...
Vayishlach: Sweet Harmony ~ Tzvi Abrahams
For the illui neshamah of my father, Dovid Yitzchak ben Tzvi Moshe, on his yahrtzeit, the thirteenth of Kislev. Parshas וַיִשְׁלַח Sweet...
Vayeishev: A Compromised Article ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
בר’ מ:ח-וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים סַפְּרוּ נָא לִי....
Vayeishev/Chanuka: Olives and Oil ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
Olives and Oil During these days of Chanuka, everybody is talking about the miracle of the Menorah and the jug of shemen zayit zach (pure...
Vayeishev: Words for Nations ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
When a very pregnant Rivka consulted with the prophets Shem and Ever to find out what is in store for her unborn child, she was informed...
Vayeishev: Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshasוַיֵשֵׁב Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side פָּרְחָה: fly פֶּרַח: flower פִּרְחֵי כְּהוּנָה: young kohanim אֶפְרוֹח:...
Mikeitz: Chanukah wisdom ~ Wonders of The Holy Tongue
Article abstract: In the Torah portion Miketz, the word "חכם" (wise) appears for the first time in Scripture - used by Pharaoh to...
Mikeitz/Chanukah: Playing with Fire ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
Playing with Fire When telling of the future downfall of the descendants of Esau, the prophet Ovadiah (Obadiah 1:18) refers to the House...
Mikeitz: How to Charm The Snake ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas מִקֵץ How to Charm the Snake נִיחוּש: divination נַחְשׁוֹן: Nachshon נָחָשׁ: snake נְחוֹשֶׁת: copper נִיחוּשׁ: Divination...
Vayigash: Confused About Crying ~ The Wonders of the Holy Tongue
Article abstract: Parashat Vayigash relates the emotional scene of Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. With emotions often...
Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
Speaking in Tongues In the Hebrew language, there are two different words for “language”—safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally these...
Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Reuven Chaim Klein
In the Hebrew language there are two different words for “language” — safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally, these two words actually...
Vayigash: Pharaoh Exposed ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshasוַיִגַשׁ Pharaoh Exposed פַּרְעֹה: Pharaoh פָּרוּעַ: exposed פֹּטִי פֶרַע: Potiphar לְמַפְרֵעַ: retroactive, to nullify פֹּרֵעַ:...
Vayechi: Relative Kindness? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg
Article abstract for Parashat Vayechi: On his deathbed, Jacob asks his beloved son Joseph to swear that he will bury him in the land of...
Vayechi: Say Your Prayers ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
Upon his deathbed, Yaakov bequeaths to his favorite son Joseph the city of Shechem “which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my...
Vayechi: Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed ~ Tzvi Abrahams
Parshas וַיְחִי Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed לְוָיָה: funeral לֵוִי: Levi לִוְיָתָן: Livyasan לֹוֶה\מַלְוֶה: loan לְוָיָה:...
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