The Library

The Torah says that Moses left the royal palace and went out unto his brethren and looked upon their burdens. The Medrash states that he went among the Hebrew slaves and assisted them in their hard labor. While sympathy is a fine trait, it is not enough. Moses wanted to f...

Jacob assembled his sons to give them his blessing before he died. The exact words of the Torah are, "He blessed them on that day" (Genesis 48:20). What is the significance of the fact that he blessed them on that day? We may translate the verse to read, "He blessed them ...

After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he said, "Now, do not be angry with yourselves. This was Hashem's design." These were comforting words, but although it was Hashem's design, they acted as free agents when they sold him into slavery. Hashem could have done i...

The Torah relates that Pharaoh told his dream to his soothsayers, but they could not interpret it for him. Rashi says that Pharaoh did not accept their interpretations. They told him that he would conquer seven countries and lose seven countries; that he would have seven ...

The Torah relates that when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Joseph, he adamantly refused. Then he said to her, "My master has entrusted me with everything he owns, and has not kept anything back from me except you, for you are his wife. How could I commit such a great wro...

The Torah says that Jacob was afraid of Esau, even though Hashem had promised him, "I will be with you and protect you." That promise was given when he had just left the home of Isaac and Rebecca, and was under their influence. Now, however, he had been with the wicked La...

Jacob reprimanded the shepherds who were sitting idly by the well: "Water the sheep and go graze them." The shepherds explained that they could not move the boulder that covered the well until all the shepherds came (Genesis 29:7-8). Couldn't Jacob see that there was a hu...

Isaac and Rebecca's son, Esau, married two pagan Hittite women, who were a source of agony to his parents, because they indulged in idol worship. The Midrash says that Isaac was more distressed by the pagan rituals than Rebecca, because Rebecca grew up in the home of her ...

The patriarch Abraham sends his servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Abraham's son, Isaac. Standing at the well, Eliezer says, "I will ask a young woman for a drink. If she also offers water to my camels, I know that she is a proper match for Isaac." Rebecca gave Eliezer ...

When the angels told Abraham that Sarah would bear a child, she laughed. "How can I bear a child at my age?" G-d revealed to Abraham that Sarah had laughed in disbelief. Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh." Sfas Emes says that Sarah was a holy person and did not lie. ...

The Torah says that Hashem spoke to Abraham after Lot had separated from him. Lot was not a spiritual person, and as long as Abraham was in his company, he did not receive any Divine communication. There is no question that Abraham retained his piety and integrity even in...

The Torah says that the generation of the Flood was destroyed because it was corrupt. The term the Torah uses for "corrupt" is chamas. The Talmud definition of chamas is taking something from another person by force, but paying for it. This is a type of thievery which a p...

"G-d said, 'Let us make man.'" All of creation is done by G-d alone. Only in creation of man does G-d say "Let us make man." G-d created animals and He created angels. Both are created in a state of completion. Now, G-d wanted a different type of being, one that is create...