Category: Oneg Shabbos

The Chofetz Chaim ztl was a prolific author who was the mechaber of many seforim. In his introduction to his Sefer Ahavas Chessed he details the acts of kindness performed throughout Sefer Bereishis and beyond.

No doubt, you are all still basking in the afterglow of all the Yomim Tovim. The re-entry into the atmosphere, however, is fraught with danger. When one has become habituated to the rarified spiritual stratosphere, a reentry plan is vital. The space shuttle needed special solar panels to absorb the intense heat generated upon re-entry. Deep-sea divers need to decompress to avoid ‘the bends’. If we attempt to re-engage with the world without having formulated a strategy to do so, it could well all end in tears. The possible disaster scenarios are either to ‘crash-and-burn’, or to revert to type, to accept mediocrity and the banal, and give up the good fight.

The Torah tells us that Kayin and his wife had a son and they called him Chanoch, and he built a city and called the city like his son, Chanoch.

The gemoro (Megillah, 31a) teaches that every year on the last day of the yom tov of Succos, we lein the parshah of Vezos Habrachah. This is not only in line with our custom to complete the public reading of the whole Torah every year on Simchas Torah. There was an ancient minhag in Eretz Yisroel to complete the reading of the Torah only once every three years (Megillah 29b), but nonetheless, points out the Meshech Chochmah, on the last day of yom tov they would lein Vezos Habrachah.

A familiar scenario: Everyone squeezes into the Succah, the table bedecked with yom tov fare. Just as Hamotzi is being said, disappointment sets in as raindrops begin to fall…

In parshas Va’yelech, we are commanded kisvu lachem es ha’shira ha’zos, write down this song. Rashi says, this, is referring to Shiras Ha’azinu. What are the halachic parameters of this mitzva? The Rambam writes that from these words we derive the commandment to write an entire Sefer Torah which contains the shira of Ha’azinu because one must not write isolated portions of the Torah. Effectively, the Rambam understands that one must write an entire Sefer Torah to halachically facilitate the writing of Shiras Ha’azinu. This is worth reflecting upon.

We are on the eve of Rosh Hashana, preparing to enter the ten days of Teshuva, which culminate with Yom Kippur. We utilise these days to perfect ourselves in the performance of our Mitzvos, to give extra tzedakah, inspire ourselves through Tefilla, to become closer to Hashem and also to refine ourselves.

Having heard the terrifying curses in Ki Savo, we were devastated. Unlike the klalos in Vayikra, there is no comforting rejoinder, no assurance that ' ה won’t forsake us, or retract His ברית with the avos. Consequently, Rashi informs us, that our faces ‘turned green’, overcome with despair.

n this week’s parasha, Moshe charges his precious nation for instructions for entering Eretz Yisrael. The people must set up stones on crossing the Yarden, build altars and offer sacrifices.

Many people spend time and effort searching for segulos for parnossoh and success. In this week’s Parshah in Perek 23 Posuk 20 and 21 the Posuk tells us of the strict prohibition of charging Ribbis - interest. The Posuk concludes “ למען יברכך ה' אלוקיך בכל משלח ידיך וכו '” that if a person refrains from charging interest, Hashem will bentch him and his possessions. In fact, this works both ways. The Gemorah in Boba Mezia tells us that one who charges Ribbis will lose their wealth and assets.