Divrei Torah Archive
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Toldot: Are good deeds valid even when we don’t intend to perform them?
Transcript Are good deeds valid even when we don’t intend to perform them? In Parshat Toldot (Bereishit 27:22) Yitzchak declares, “Hakol kol Yaakov vehayadaim yedei Eisav.” – “The voice is Read more... -
Chayei Sarah: How can anyone have two lives on earth?
Transcript How can anyone have two lives on earth? Parshat Chayei Sara commences as follows (Bereishit 23:1): “Vayihyu chayei Sara,” – “And the life of Sarah was,” “Meah shana v’esrim Read more... -
Vayeira: What will we become the parent of?
Transcript: It is possible for your parent not to be related to you. And this applies to everyone. In Parshat Vayeira (Bereishit 18:19), Hashem pays the ultimate compliment to Avraham Read more... -
Lech Lecha: What gave Avraham a great name?
Transcript: What gave Avraham a great name? At the commencement of Parshat Lech Lecha, Hashem commands Avraham and Sara to make aliyah, a pilgrimage, to the land that He would Read more... -
Noach: What is our most repetitive blessing?
Transcript: What is our most repetitive blessing? Without doubt it’s the bracha we recite over a rainbow. In Parshat Noach, the Torah tells us that immediately after the flood Hashem Read more... -
Bereishit: Why the world is built and preserved with 7 and 28
Transcript: The very first verse of the Torah – “Bereishit barah Elokim et hashamayim v’et haaretz,” – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” contains seven words Read more... -
Shemini Atzeret: A most unusual festival!
Transcript: Shemini Atzeret is a most unusual festival. Other festivals have special mitzvot: on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar; on Pesach we hold a seder; on Chanukah we light Read more... -
Succot: So many festivals in just a few weeks!
Transcript: This month is packed with major festivals, but we need them all. As I see it, in the same way as we need all three paragraphs of the shema, Read more... -
Yom Kippur: Guaranteed happiness in 5783?
Transcript How can we all guarantee that we’ll be happy in 5783? Our Yom Kippur Kol Nidrei evening service commences with a verse from Psalm 97: “Ohr zarua letzadik, uleyishrei Read more... -
Is Rosh Hashanah on the wrong day?
Transcript: Do we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the right day? In our davening on the New Year we proclaim, “HaYom harat olam!” – “This is the day on which Hashem Read more...
