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Tehillim on the Parsha: Vayakhel: As An Individual

The verse in Isaiah (40:26) reads, “Raise your eyes on high and see Who created these things! He brings forth the regions by number; He calls to each of them by name; by the abundance of His power and by vigor of His strength, not one

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Parsha, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther VI: One More Than Half

“One hundred, and twenty, and seven provinces.” Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Chanina: Are there not 252 governorships in the world? Now David ruled over all of them, Solomon also ruled over them, Ahab ruled over

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Meir Einei Chachamim: Vayakhel: Moshe’s Authority

The 19th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Meir Yechiel (ben Avrohom Yitzchok) HeLevi Haldshtok, founder of the court of Ostrovtze (1851-1928). A talmid of Rav Elimelech of Grodzinsk, a scion of the Kozhnitzer dynasty. Ostrovtze

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Michtav Sofer: 100 Blessings

The 17th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Shimon (ben Moshe) Sofer, Rav and Av Beis Din of Cracow (1821-1883). Born in Pressburg, the second son of the Chasam Sofer. Author of Michtav Sofer.

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Blessings of Shema: Esther & Yotzair Ohr

Part of the problem of the non-tzaddik is that it is impossible for him to see most things as they really are. Because true consciousness exists out of an awareness of light and dark, it requires the notion of nonexistence in order to be conscious

Tags: God, i-Love, i-Pray, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shema, The Foundation Stone

Rav Schwab: Morning Blessings of Shema

“He formed all this goodness as glory for His name.” We now climb yet higher on this ladder, and gain an overview of the entire physical universe, with all its heavenly bodies. According to Rav Hirsch, the word “good” here is a metaphor

Tags: God, i-Love, i-Pray, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shema, The Foundation Stone

Biblical Personalities: Hiram & His Palace

Hiram, King of Tyre, entered the sea, made himself 40 iron pillars of equal length, and place them facing one another. Then he made seven levels to parallel the seven firm amends, each separated from the next by a duct of water.

Tags: Bible, Biblical Personalities, commentaries, Midrash, Parsha, Portion of the Week, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Parsha Mitzvot: Vayakhel: Modern Shabbat Violator

When a scribe had completed writing a Torah scroll, it was customary to have a Siyum, “completion celebration” in the synagogue. At this celebration the members and guests were asked to make contributions to defray the costs of

Tags: Chassidic, Commandments, commentaries, Kabbalah, Midrash, Mitzvot, Parsha, Portion of the Week, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Responsa, Talmud, Taryag, The Foundation Stone

Tehillim on the Parsha: Vayakhel: God’s Light

“And Betzalel made the Ark (Exodus 37:1).” This is what is described in the verse in Psalms (119:130), “The introduction of Your words illuminates, making simpletons understand.” At the time that the Holy One, Blessed is He,

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Parsha, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone

Tehillim Tools: Psalm 78:72: Natural Inclinations

“And he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and by the skillfulness of his hands he led them.” This verse resonates with the teaching of the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 35:1) that King David used to say that his feet

Tags: Bible, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, spirituality, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Tools for Growth

Midrash Esther V: The King’s Influence

“Who reigned”: but up to now he had not reigned. (This suggests either, that he was not the natural heir of the previous king, or that at the beginning of his reign his dominions were not yet so extensive.) “From Hodu to even up to Cush.”

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther IV: Was Achashveirosh Capable of Change?

“Achashveirosh, this is Achashveirosh.” Rabbi Isaac and the Rabbis explained differently. Rabbi Isaac said: he was that Achashveirosh in whose days trouble came, as it says, “there was great mourning among the Jews.” This is

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther IV: Long Term Effects

The Rabbis said: Artaxerxes was the same as Achashveirosh, meaning Artaxerxes was the nickname; and why was he given this nickname? Because he used to fall into a passion and then be sorry. Some commentaries explain this final

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther IV: The Headache Maker

Rabbi Levi and the Rabbis differed on who Achashveirosh really was. Rabbi Levi said: Achashveirosh is the same as Artaxerxes; (Achashveirosh was a nickname)and why was he called Achashveirosh? Because no one could mention

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther III: From Beginning To End

The word “Hu” is found five times in a bad sense and five times in a good sense. The five times in a bad sense are: “He, Nimrod, was a mighty hunter before the Lord.” Genesss 10:9; “This is Esau the father of the Edomites.” 36:43; “These

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther II: ‘Hu” Achashveirosh: Off Balance

Rabbi Nehemiah points out that although it was Achashveirosh's careful wording of his decree that allowed his son, Darius, to permit the completion of the second Temple, it was not inconsistent with his decree to stop the construction.

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Midrash Esther II: ‘Hu” Achashveirosh: Perfectly Consistent

“This is, 'Hu,' Achashveirosh.” Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah explained differently. Once said: Achashveirosh who put his wife to death on account of his friend, this is the same Achashveirosh,' Hu,' who put his friend to death on account of his wife.

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Something To Say

“Moses assembles the entire assembly of Israel.” (35:1) Rashi explains that Moshe did not actively assemble the people. He used words to have them gathered. Which words did he use? If he said, “Please assemble”, Rashi would not be making an important point. He still gathered them...

Tags: Mishkan, Shabbat, Vayakhel

Categories

Tehillim on the Parsha: Vayakhel: As An Individual

Midrash Esther VI: One More Than Half

Meir Einei Chachamim: Vayakhel: Moshe’s Authority

Michtav Sofer: 100 Blessings

Blessings of Shema: Esther & Yotzair Ohr

Rav Schwab: Morning Blessings of Shema

Biblical Personalities: Hiram & His Palace

Parsha Mitzvot: Vayakhel: Modern Shabbat Violator

Tehillim on the Parsha: Vayakhel: God’s Light

Tehillim Tools: Psalm 78:72: Natural Inclinations

Midrash Esther V: The King’s Influence

Midrash Esther IV: Was Achashveirosh Capable of Change?

Midrash Esther IV: Long Term Effects

Midrash Esther IV: The Headache Maker

Midrash Esther III: From Beginning To End

Midrash Esther II: ‘Hu” Achashveirosh: Off Balance

Midrash Esther II: ‘Hu” Achashveirosh: Perfectly Consistent

Something To Say

Biblical Personalities: Betzalel: Just Doing My Job!

Midrash Esther I: Achashveirosh: No Future

Rav Schwab: Baruch Sh’Amar

Midrash Esther I: Achashveirosh: False Hope

Rav Moshe Weber – Prayer

Yesod ViShoresh Ha’avodah: Service of God

Parsha Mitzvot: Vayakhel: Reason for Shabbat

Tehillim Tools: Psalm 73:9 Integrity

Tehillim on the Parsha: Vayakhel: Ugly, Yet Beautiful Again

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