Torah Tidbits
From the Writings of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaKohen Kook by Rabbi Chanan Morrison
The Blessing of a Scholar’s Presence
Adapted from Ein Ayah vol. II, pp. 187-8
The Rise and Fall of the Angels by Rabbi Ephraim Sprecher, Dean of Students, Diaspora Yeshiva
“Yaakov had a dream: a ladder was set on the ground and its top reached up toward heaven, and angels of G-d were going up and down on it.” (B’reishit: 28:1)
Continue ReadingAliya by Aliya Sedra Summary
[P> X:Y (Z)] and [S> X:Y (Z)] indicate start of a parsha p’tucha or s’tuma. X:Y is Perek:Pasuk of the beginning of the parsha; (Z) is the number of p’sukim in the parsha.
TTriddles
TTRIDDLES…
are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. The best solution set submitted each week (there isn’t always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal
Divrei Menachem
This week’s parsha portrays the devious nature of Yaakov’s uncle (and future father-in-law) Lavan to whom Yaakov flees both to escape Eisav’s machinations and to look for a wife. The Torah describes how, after Yaakov’s encounter with Rachel at the well, Lavan ran towards his nephew, embraced him and kissed him, and took him to his house (B’reishit 29:13).
Continue ReadingParsha Points to Ponder
1) Most Parashot in the Torah begin on their own line in the Torah. Why does Parshat Vayeitzei begin on the same line in which Parashat Toldot ended?
Ed. note: 13 of the Torah’s 54 sedras begin on the same line that the previous sedra ended.
2) Why does the Torah use the seemingly extra word V’HINEI - AND BEHOLD when describing what Yaakov saw in his dream (25:12)?
3) Why does Yaakov first describe his 20 years with Lavan as TWENTY YEARS I HAVE BEEN WITH YOU (31:38) and then three verses later he describes it as THIS TO ME TWENTY YEARS IN YOUR HOUSE (31:41)? What are each of these verses referring to thereby warranting the different expressions?
CHIZUK and IDUD for Olim not yet Olim respectively
Young people today often use the term “awesome” in everyday conversation.
“How was the movie/tiyul?” “Awe- some!” For those not used to this modern idiom, it can be somewhat jarring. Yet, in this week’s Parsha we find that Yaakov was first to use it.
Vebbe Rebbe
The Orthodox Union - via its website - fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, headed by Rav Yosef Carmel and Rav Moshe Ehrenreich, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l, to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah… and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah…
Continue ReadingWord of the Month
A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of haChodesh HaZeh Lachem…
Continue Reading
In This Issue of Torah Tidbits
- Lead Tidbit
- Guest Article
- Candle A Day
- Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
- Sedra Stats
- How often does RH fall on Shabbat?
- Maharal on the Sedra
- Vebbe Rebbe
- Parsha Points to Ponder
- TTriddles "Report"
- Person In The Parsha
- Word of the Month
- The Trade and Commerce of the Talmid Chacham- Tamari
- Chizuk and Idud
- Unlocking the Torah Text
- Divrei Menachem
- "From Machon Puah"
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Candle Lighting and Havdala
Candle Lighting Sponsored By:
Sedra Stats
Word of the Month
For those who wait until 7 full days after the molad - first op for KL is Wednesday night, Nov 21. Everyone else could have and should have already said Kiddush L’vana this month. But, in case you haven’t… Motza"Sh Vayeitzei is a good time, and the last opportunity is Wednesday night, Nov 28th until 9:26pm Israel Standard (Winter) Time. We say again - because of the likelihood (IY"H) of cloudy and rainy skies, it is advisable NOT to wait for Motza’ei Shabbat, but to take an earlier op if presented.