By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The 8th and 9th plagues occur. Before the 10th, death of the first born, the mitzvot of Korban Pesach and of Matza are given. The first-born die. The Jews are sent out of Egypt. Mitzvot are given to commemorate the momentous event of the Exodus from Egypt. 1st aliya
Month: January 2024
Total 18 Posts
By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks Parshat Vaera is the transition from Divine promises to Divine action. After Paro’s first refusal at the end of last week’s Parsha, G-d assures Moshe that He will release the Jewish people from slavery and bring them to the land of Israel. After Moshe’s reluctance, Moshe
By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The Jewish people are in Egypt. A new Paro is concerned with the size of the Jewish people. Increasing decrees of hard labor, infanticide, and finally actively drowning the male babies are made. Moshe is born, raised in Paro’s daughter’s home. After seeing the Jews mistreated,
By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks Vayechi means life, yet the Parsha begins with talk of death and ends with death. Yaakov demands to be buried in Israel. Yosef swears he will. Yaakov elevates his grandchildren, Ephraim and Menashe to be equal to his children as tribes settling the land of Israel.
By Rav Reuven Tradburks The Parsha begins in the middle of the story. Yosef has just told Yehuda and all the brothers that Binyamin, the thief, will become a slave to Yosef. All the others are free to leave. Our Parsha begins with Yehuda’s long and impassioned plea to Yosef
Question: If one travels overseas, returns home more than thirty days later, and is happy to see his wife or a dear friend when he returns, must one recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing? Answer: The Gemara (Berachot 58b) states: “Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One who sees his friend after thirty days recites
Our Sages teach us (Eruvin 40b) that one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing upon seeing a new fruit that renews once a year. Even if one sees this fruit in the hands of another person or on the tree, one should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing. Nevertheless, the Poskim and Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 225)
By Rav Reuven Tradburks Yosef ascends from jail to complete control of Egypt. Paro has a dream. The Butler remembers Yosef in jail. Yosef tells Paro of 7 impending years of plenty followed by 7 of famine. Yosef is appointed to manage the hoarding of food in the good years.
אֲ֭דֹנָי שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃ O Lord, open thou my lips, that my mouth may declare thy praise. בָּר֨וּךְ אַתָּ֤ה יהוה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֨ינוּ֙ וֵאלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ אֱלֹהֵ֧י אַבְרָהָ֛ם אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִצְחָ֖ק וֵאלֹהֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב אֱלֹהֵ֨י שָׂרָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י רִבְקָ֗ה אֱלֹהֵ֞י רָחֵ֣ל וּבִלְהָ֗ה וֵאלֹהֵי֙ לֵאָ֣ה וְזִלְפָּ֔ה הָאֵ֨ל הַגָּדֹ֤ול הַגִּבֹּור֙ וְהַנּוֹרָ֔א אֵ֣ל עֶלְ֔יוֹן גּוֹמֵל֩ חֲסָדִ֨ים טוֹבִ֜ים וְקוֹנֵ֣ה
By Rav Reuven Tradburks The sale of Yosef in Parshat Vayeshev is one of the most famous stories of the Torah. Yaakov settles, finally, in the land of Israel. Yosef is favored. Yosef has 2 dreams. Yaakov sends Yosef to inquire of his brother’s welfare. The brothers sell Yosef to