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The Gemara in Sanhedrin 98a relates a remarkable story that is connected to the end of our pasuk. Once, Rabbi Yehoshua met Elijah entering the cave of Shimon bar Yochai. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked the Prophet, “When will the Moshiach come?” For the Prophet Elijah is the one who will announce the coming of … More Today!

ו) בֹּאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה נִבְרְכָה לִפְנֵי ה’ עֹשֵׂנוּ: Come! Let us prostrate ourselves and bow, let us kneel before G-d our Maker. The Malbim interprets this pasuk in light of his approach to the whole chapter. We, the Jewish people do not have an awareness and recognition of Hashem just because He is the Creator … More The Shepherd and His Flock

ו) בֹּאוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה נִבְרְכָה לִפְנֵי ה’ עֹשֵׂנוּ: Come! Let us prostrate ourselves and bow, let us kneel before G-d our Maker. Rav Hirsch continues his explanation of these verses by saying this verse means, ‘come let us all unite in one emotion, in perfect devotion to Him both in our lives and actions.’ This … More Down We Go!

Rav Hirsch explains verses 3-5 as follows. For Hashem, to whom we look for every moment of our lives both as individuals and as a nation is great as א-ל as the Lord and original foundation of all forces. He rules over all things than men worship and over all places both high and low, all the … More Everywhere You Go

I write these words walking through Auschwitz – Birkenau as the sun is setting on a cold winters day and the following thought comes to mind.   Yaakov runs away from Beer Sheva alone and afraid. Yaakov finds himself at the gateway to Heaven, the future site of the Beis Hamikdash as night is falling. … More Parshas Vayeitzei

The Malbim interprets the next two pesukim together   (ד) אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ מֶחְקְרֵי אָרֶץ וְתוֹעֲפֹת הָרִים לוֹ: (ה) אֲשֶׁר לוֹ הַיָּם וְהוּא עָשָׂהוּ וְיַבֶּשֶׁת יָדָיו יָצָרוּ:   In Whose hand are the depths of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are His. For the sea is His, He made it, and His hands … More It’s all in His Hands

The Seforno says that this chapter is referring specifically to קיבוץ גליות, the ingathering of the exiles at the time of Moshiach, so that the Jewish people themselves can return to Hashem with Teshuva The events of this time are predicted by the prophet Yechezkel 36:23-28. This passage is both powerful and beautiful and has been a … More Present and Future

Rav Hirsch now says something remarkable. The letter  ה that is added to the words נקדמה, נריעה, נרננה  is technically called the paragogic ה. It is added for emphasis, as these words constitute the summons calling us to Hashem. There is nothing better suited to call the attention of the non-Jewish world in which Yisrael lives and must … More Setting Our Priorities

Rav Hirsch interprets this chapter in the context of the previous ones. Chapters 92 and 93 give voice to those thoughts that well up within our hearts each Shabbos day and which show us a glimpse beyond the dreary present into the future into  the ear of the advent of G-d’s kingdom on earth. Chapter … More Putting things in context