Yaacov’s Humility
Why does Yaacov belittle himself by referring in ch. 32 V.5 to Esov as his master and to himself as Esov’s servant when he was not even speaking to Esov nor was he in his presence of anywhere near within…
Shabbat Hagadol
One of the most interesting aspects of this Shabbat preceding Pesach is its name which we usually translate to mean the Great Shabbat. However this leaves us with a number of questions. Why then is the masculine adjective ha-gadol used,…
The Longest Word in Chumash and the Plague of Frogs
In chapter 7 verse 28 Moshe is told to threaten Pharaoh that the Nile will swarm with Tsfardeim (frogs) which will come into your house and in your bedroom and on your bed and into the house of your servants and your…
Occurrence of the Yamim Tovim in the Torah
Towards the end of the sidra we have the well-known parshiot of AserTe’aser and KolHabechor which are read for KriatHatorah “ChutzLa’Aretz” on Shmini Atzeret and Yom Tov Sheni. There are five places in Chumash where the range of YamimTovim are…
