Danny Ginsbourg

'And Yitschak's eyes dimmed from seeing'

What is the reason God wanted Yitschak to think he was blessing Esav?

Chayei Sarah:

The death of Sarah Imenu

Why did the Torah find it necessary to testify that she remained righteous throughout her life, from beginning to end? And why did her end come after the Akeidah?

Why is it called 'the binding of Isaac'?

This episode is counted by our Sages as the final, culminating test with which Hashem tested Avraham. But then why is it named for Isaac?

The first Brit Milah

Why didn't Abraham perform the brit milah before G-d told him to?

Nitzavim-Vayelech:

The eternal witnesses

How can one compare man, with his abiiity to choose, to the heaven and earth? Commentaries weigh in on the question.

'This day you have become a people to Hashem'

There is no nation in the land, except for Bnei Israel, as all the nations, compared to it, are as nought, and do not merit being called ‘a nation’.

Ki Tetse:

Are we the "rebellious sons?"

A selection of commentaries on a difficult Torah commandment, with a surprising twist at the end.

Re'eh:

Resh, aleph, heh - acronyms, anagrams and gematriot

There are no coincidences. The word Elul and the word Re'eh contain many messages in symbolic form.

Parashat Ekev:

"Now O Israel! What does Hashem ask of you?

Reading Rabbi Lazer Gurkow's article this week informs us as to the outcome of reciting blessings. What do the commentaries add to explain the injunction to say 100 blessings each day?

Vaetchanan:

The righteous do not rely on their good deeds

Commentators weigh in on Moshe's pleas to enter the land.

Devarim:

Two different spy stories

What do our Torah Sages say about the glaring differences in the two accounts of the 12 spies? And an idea for reconciling them.

Moshe Rabbeinu's ultimate "mesirut nefesh"

Could there be a greater act of mesirut nefesh, than Moshe’s decision to depart this life, so as to not to delay the vengeance of Hashem, and of Bnei Israel?! Read how the commentaries on this week's parsha see it.

The righteous daughters

Their love for the land was palpable. Even their timing was perfect. A look at the different ways our commentators described the daughters' viewpoint.

"This is the statute of the Torah": Chukat haTorah

Questions and answers of rabbinic commentators on the idea of laws for which we have no reason.

The test

A selection of commentaries weighing in on the meaning of the almond branch blossoming staff test.

Commentators weigh in on the Sin of the Spies

Was their sin lack of faith in God, was it a provocation, was it their fear of having to fight - or a combination?

Shavuot and Torah: The 'yetser hara' conundrum

At the end of days, the nations will claim that they are entitled to be rewarded, even though they did not keep the Torah.

Why wasn't the Tribe of Levi counted with the others?

Various Torah commentaries' o;pinions on the reason the tribe of Levi had a different status.

The wonderful rewards for toiling in Torah

"What is the meaning of:’if you follow My statutes’? It means that you toil in the study of Torah..".

Shmitta - the bitachon mitzva

Commentators explain why Shmitta transgression is punished severaly and what reliance of Hashem it proposesl

Kedoshim: Be holy towards your fellow man

Keeping Mitzvot between man-and-fellow man means to look both at our fellow man and at ourselves correctly, in ways which are ‘opposite’.

Counting the days- the freedom of our time

Follow in the ways of Avraham Avinu - make sure that every day of our sefira, is truly ‘ours’ - that we have given it content, by serving Hashem.

The one to whom the house belongs

A collection of commentaries on tsaraat of a house. The Alsheich Hakadosh says: This affliction should be considered by us, as a gift from Hashem. Why?

Parshat Tazria: The supernatural affliction

Are speakers of lashon ha’ra not found amongst the nations? Why then don’t we find that they are afflicted by tzaraat?

What is: 'The thing that Hashem has commanded?'

Shmini describes the wondrous events of that first day of Nissan, the eighth day of the investiture of the Mishkan.

Tsav: The challenge of a depleted pocket

The word "tsav" is found only concerning the Korban Tamid. Why?

What did Hashem say to Moshe from the Ohel Moed?

Our Sages expound the word ‘Saying’ in the first pasuk in several ways, feeling that it is superfluous, as immediately after it - in the second pasuk - the Torah again says:’Speak to Bnei Israel, and say to them.’

Moshe could not enter the Tent of Assemby

At the end of the Book of Shmot, Moshe cannot enter the Tent of Assembly and the shechina has not yet spoken with him!

Vayakhel: The assembly of atonement

The whole of Hashem’s wish in the offerings of the Mishkan was as an atonement for the sin of the calf, to thereby again cleave to Hashem. Careful reading shows that.

What was the Sin of the Golden Calf?

if all this was the work of the non-Jewish erev rav, why were Bnei Israel so severely punished?

And you [Moshe], command the children of Israel...

Moshe’s name is not mentioned in our Parasha.

Take for Me an offering and you take Me, too!

Commentaries expound on the meaning of the verse "take for me" instead of "give to me" in this week's parasha on the building of the Tabnernacle.

Mishpatim: The intriguing issue of the Hebrew slave

What did the Torah see, to start its words on the ordinances, specifically on the subject of ‘the Jewish slave? What the commentaries have to say.

Yitro: A mussar lesson from the stones of the altar

‘We can learn from this about man, that even if he is engaged in a Mitzvah or worthwhile matter, how careful he must be not to act disrespectfully towards others.’

This is my God and I will beautify Him

"Veanvehu" -build him a sanctuary or beautify your way of doing mitzvot?

Why does the firsst mitzva sanctify the moon?

The underlying message of our reckoning by the moon, is that the moon is at times in absolute darkness, without even a sliver of light, yet even at this time, we know that it will soon return.

Vaera: Moses introduces the concept "kal vachomer"

The unspoken answer of Hashem, to Moshe’s query, as to why the affliction increased after Moshe’s first approach to Pharoah, leads to a kal vachoerm.

Shemot: Aaron's reward for 'rejoicing in his heart'

Breishit is filled with fraternal strife,until nearly its end, but Shemot has the exemplary brotherly relationsip of Aaron and Moshe.

May G-d make you like Ephraim and like Menashe

Which brother comes first and what is the deep message hidden in the order of their names?

Why did G-d act with chessed towards Egypt?

Why did G-d warn Pharaoh of the famine to come?

No rest for the righteous in this world

The pasuk says וישב יעקב: ‘and Yaakov dwelt’, it clearly has the second meaning

Jacob's ladder is Jacob himself!

It is the will of Hashem, that a Jew be engaged in this physical world, and, in it, find a way to remain sanctified to Hashem.

Toldot: Hashem accepted Isaac's prayer, not Rivkah's

This thorny question as seen in the eyes of various commenttators.

'She is fit to enter the house of Abraham'

Even the most charitable of men, would not see a need to help those who are well able to attend to their own needs. Not so Rivkah.

'You shall give loving kindness to Abraham'

We are commanded to go in His ways, and our role is to do an act of chessed each and every day, as this is why we descended to this world.

Avraham descended to Egypt-why?

Why would a famine make Abraham leave the land G-d had told him to go to?

The lesson of the fourth day of Creation

The moon decided that Creation should be otherwise and was duly punished.

The simcha of Zebulun and of Issachar.

The wonderful Torah supporting partnership of Zebulun and Asher is explored y various Torah Sages as we prepare for Simchat Torah.

Why is this holiday called "Sukkot"?

And why did the Tur say that Sukkot is for Yaakov Avinu?

The great chessed of Divine Judgment

In this world, a judge cannot truly do ‘true justice’, so that it does not punish innocent people, those who may be affected by it.

'One thing I ask of Hashem' - the one thing He asks of us

What could Hashem need of us?

Nitzavim: You shall choose life

As we read our Parasha approaching the Day of Judgement, it guides us as to the ‘life’ for which we should fervently plead, on that Day.

Ki Tavo: A tale of two declarations

Two haggadot, two promises. Commentators weigh in on the differences and similarities.

'Go out to war against your enemy,,,;

Commentaries weigh in on how waging war against enemies is what is ‘upright in the eyes of Hashem’.

Re'eh: You are children to Hashem, your G-d

The principle of principles - what do the commentaries say about this and how it affects every Jew?

Va'etchanan: What is greater,- prayer or good deeds?

One of G-d's greatest kindnesses to us is allowing us to pray. Prayer affects reality.

What Moses learned from the Patriarch Jacob

Moshe rebuked them only a short while before his death. From whom did he learn this? From Yaakov. Why did Yaakov wait to rebuke his sons?

Matot-Maasei: Our mouths are sacred vessels

Various commentators weigh in on the power of speech.

Zealotry - for Hashem

Zealotry, like every other aspect of a Jew's life, has halakhic boundaries and limitations..

Balak: Learning mussar from a donkey

Are the donkey's words important enough to take up room in the Torah? Why?