Mishnas Chayim Parshah Posts

Fascinating weekly parshah posts

The Right Foot-Parshas Mikeitz

By |2021-06-24T22:03:23-04:00December 18, 2022|

“Grant me wisdom from my enemies” (Tehillim 119:98). At times, we can extrapolate the best way for successfully serving Hashem by taking a lesson from the designs of our worst enemies. The Yevanim (Greeks) of the Chanukah saga are no exception. As opposed to Amalekite Haman – who sought the physical annihilation of the Jewish people – the Yevanim were intent on our spiritual demise. As long as [...]

The Biggest “Bang” for Your Buck-Parshas Vayeishev

By |2021-06-24T22:01:12-04:00December 11, 2022|

Peace Now? Ya’akov Avinu’s career of hardships spanned many years. He was forced to leave his parents’ home, fleeing for his life from his wicked and vengeful brother; he spent many years of backbreaking labor, working for his unscrupulous and conniving uncle, Lavan; his wife died in childbirth; and, at the end of last week’s parshah, he completed a tumultuous sojourn in Shechem, where the misconduct of the [...]

The Reality and the Hope-Parshas Vayishlach

By |2021-06-24T21:58:24-04:00December 4, 2022|

Many times in the past – and, unfortunately of late as well – the institution of shechitah has come under intense and intrusive scrutiny. Devout Jews are suddenly made to feel that they need to defend their activities to the court of public opinion as being sufficiently humane and ethical. Historically, such inspection campaigns have been spearheaded by a wide assortment of groups; among them have been the Polish [...]

How Did He Get Invited?-Parshas Vayeitzei

By |2021-06-24T21:55:56-04:00November 27, 2022|

On the night of Pesach, as we sit assembled around the Seder table in front of open Haggados, we recount and relive the events of yetzias Mitzrayim (the Exodus from Egypt). After performing some preliminary rituals and reciting parts of the text, we arrive at the main body of the Haggadah: the concentrated account of the Pesach story as recorded in Devarim (25:5-8). This central point of the Seder begins with a [...]

The Good Old Days-Parshas Toldos

By |2021-06-24T21:53:15-04:00November 20, 2022|

Shortchanged? Chas V’Shalom! Taking a quick overview of the three Avos (Avraham, Yitzchak, and Ya’akov) in sefer Bereishis, we notice something interesting. The Torah devotes significant space to discussing the life of Avraham Avinu. In parshas Lech Lecha, parshas Vayeira, and parshas Chayei Sarah, the narrative focuses primarily on Avraham. Ya’akov receives similar treatment. In a good portion of this week’s parshah of Toldos, as well as Vayeitzei and [...]

How to Respond to a Crisis-Parshas Chayei Sarah

By |2021-06-24T21:50:43-04:00November 13, 2022|

The Mishnah in Berachos (9:3) shows us what not to do in the event of a crisis (Heaven forbid): “If someone davens after the fact, his prayer is in vain. An example: A person arriving from a journey hears a cry of despair emanating from the city. If he were to respond by praying, ‘May it be Your Will that this cry did not emanate from my household,’ his [...]

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