by Moshe Yosef Kerendian Throughout Jewish history, Hashem’s ways may initially seem random or even detrimental, but once His ways are enacted, His planning becomes evident as a help to the Jewish people. For example, a person not getting their desired job as a construction worker may look disturbing at first, but after a few months, days, years, or even
Read moreThis week’s Parsha is Metzora, which focuses on many things. One very important thing that the Parsha discusses is the tzaraat: a heaven-sent disease that was inflicted upon people due to their misdeeds, most commonly Lashon Hara. To gain atonement for a sin so great that it deserved tzaraat, a person must vanquish himself totally of the moral underlying flaw inside of
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Lag ba’omer is one of the most beautiful, important, and awaited chagim for the Jewish people. There are many citations to celebrate by making a bonfire and dancing around it, having a barbecue, and just overall having fun. However, the question may arise: what is the cause for all this celebration? Most people think that we celebrate because the 24,000 students of
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In this week’s Parsha, when Hashem speaks to Mosheh, He uses four phrases of “redemption”: Vehotzaiti, Vehitzalti, Vega’alti, and Velakachti. The Netivot Shalom explains that these phrases represent the four different redemptions that took place. Hashem first “took us out” of the corruption and immorality of Egyptian culture, which they had been bombarded with for hundreds of years (the first redemption). The second stage was to “save them”, each person
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In this week’s Parsha of Vayechi, the Torah recounts how Yaakov Avinu gathers his sons around his deathbed to bless them for the last time. When he gets to Yehudah’s blessing he says “Yehuda atah yoducha achecha[49:8]” meaning “Yehuda your brothers will admit to you” referring to the fact that his brothers will admit that he is their rightful ruler
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Although this article will be discussing punishments, it is still heartbreaking to witness a tragic incident. Along with the rest of the Jewish nation, I am devastated because of the horrific events of last week’s Meron tragedy. May it be the last tragedy the Jewish nation ever faces. Bechukotai has more Psukim discussing curses than blessings. Specifically, while the list
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This week’s second parasha starts off with the commandment to be holy. Why? Not because it’s logical or moral, but rather, simply because Hashem himself is holy. דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֧ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֥ אֲלֵהֶ֖ם קְדֹשִׁ֣ים תִּהְי֑וּ כִּ֣י קָד֔וֹשׁ אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ Speak to the whole Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H This week’s Torah portion begins with God calling Moshe and speaking to him from the Ohel Moed (Leviticus 1:1). Rashi points out that God addresses Moshe with the word “vayikra,” whereas in Parshat Balak (Numbers 23:4) God speaks to the gentile prophet, Bilam, with
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H In the first portion of Parshat Vayakhel, the Torah states: “Every man and woman whose heart moved them to bring for any of the work that God had commanded to make, through the hand of Moshe, Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to God.”
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וַיִּפְגַּ֨ע בַּמָּק֜וֹם וַיָּ֤לֶן שָׁם֙ כִּי־בָ֣א הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ וַיִּקַּח֙ מֵֽאַבְנֵ֣י הַמָּק֔וֹם וַיָּ֖שֶׂם מְרַֽאֲשֹׁתָ֑יו וַיִּשְׁכַּ֖ב בַּמָּק֥וֹם הַהֽוּא: And he arrived at the place and lodged there because the sun had set, and he took some of the stones of the place and placed [them] at his head, and he lay down in that place. (Parshas Vayeitzei, pasuk יא.) Yaakov, having run away from
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The Valley Torah Scroll 