Esav’s Message
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Mrs. Shira Smiles expounds upon Parshat Toldot by delving into the message that Esav gives us.
Category: Chumash Bereishit
The Whole Picture
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An in-depth study of the topic of Yaakov’s dream of the ladder.
Creating the “I”
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles gives an analysis of the extraordinary episode of the search for Yitzchak’s wife, and a discussion of the lessons gleaned from this story for our personal lives.
Parshat Lech Lecha: Relationship of Heaven and Earth
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In this class on Parshat Lech Lecha, Rabbi Herschel Reichman discusses how earth’s desire to reach the heavens, and heaven’s force in holding her back, is a spiritual reality that applies to our own lives as well.
Beginning and End
Posted onExplains how the ending of the episode of Akeidat Yitzchak is actually a new beginning in his Avodat Hashem.
Connection
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles explores the episode of the angels’ promise to Avraham and Sarah that they will be blessed with a son. Shira Smiles clarifies this difficult-to-understand episode with both the classical understanding and with the novel approach of the Belzer Rebbe.
Avraham’s Ram
Posted onDiscusses the meaning of Avraham’s ram.
Inner Journey
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles discusses the fact that G-d’s command to Avraham to travel to the Land of Israel was not simply a command to move physically. She discusses that this charge instead echoes to every Jew and commands each of us to embark on an inner journey of self-perfection.
Akeidat Yitzchak
Posted onExpounds upon the topic of Akeidat Yitzchak.
Call of the Angel
Posted onDiscusses the angel’s call to Avraham to stop what he is doing and not to harm his son.
Tears of a Father, Tears of a Son
Posted onDiscusses the poignant moments of Avraham actually performing the Akeida.
The Binding of Yitzchak
Posted onAddressing many of the glaring questions that appear in the Torah’s narrative of this episode.
Simple Faith
Posted onAnalyzing the centrality of prayer learned from Avraham Avinu’s prayer to Hashem at the top of the mountain.
Meaningful Dialogue
Posted onObserving the meaningful dialogue between Avraham Avinu tells Yitzchak Avinu, replete with hidden messages about love between a father and son, self-nullification before G-d and more.
‘Stay Here with the Donkey’
Posted onWhy would Avraham Avinu disparagingly refer to his son and servant as ‘the nation that is similar to a donkey?’
‘He Saw the Place From Afar’
Posted onWhy does the Torah refer to the location of the Akeida as ‘the place’?
The Chamor: Harnessing Materialism
Posted onA Teaching of the great speed and desire with which Avraham Avinu performs the Akeida and understanding the significance of our forefather’s use of the donkey.
Father and Son Set Out
Posted onThis class focuses on the topic of fulfilling a mitzvah completely which entails pure devotion,joy, and alacrity.
The Land of Moriah
Posted onDiscovering the unique character of the city of Yerushalayim, Jerusalem.
Lech Lecha
Posted onDiscussing the deeper meaning of the words Lech Lecha and their message for every person’s spiritual journey.
Where was Sarah during the Akeida?
Posted onLooking at the manner of Hashem’s call to Avraham Avinu, and the response Avraham’s striking response of Hineni.
Reasons Behind Life’s Tests
Posted onFocusing on the nature of Heavenly tests. Mrs. Smiles compares the approaches of the mefarshim who discuss the purpose of a nisayon.
Motivating Factors of the Akeida
Posted onTorah insights on the motivation behind the Akeida.
Tribes – Model of Diversity
Posted onShira Smiles discusses how the different tribes each reflect a specific quality of the Jewish people.
Wagon Wisdom
Posted onShira Smiles discusses Parshat Vayigash, and the significance of the wagons Yosef sent from Egypt to bring his father Yaakov from the Land of Canaan.
World of Action
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the life question that Parshat Vayeishev addresses: What has man been placed in this world to accomplish?
Chevron – Inner Essence
Posted onShira Smiles discusses Parshat Vayishlach, delving into the episode of Rachel’s death and her burial in Beit Lechem instead of in Chevron.
Redeeming the Sparks
Posted onMrs. Smiles explains the puzzling episode of the “Dudaim”, the fertility herbs that Reuven brought for his mother Leah, and Leah’s deal with Rachel to give her the Dudaim in return for more time with Yaakov, their husband.
Testing the Essence
Posted onShira Smiles discusses the narrative of the story of Yitzchak’s blessings to his sons Yaakov and Esav, found in Parshat Toldot. Yitzchak’s main strength was that of Gevura (inner strength), and therefore he is tested specifically in this area.
The Grand Finale
Posted onShira Smiles discusses Parshat Chayei Sarah. In this parsha, the tenth and final test of Avraham Avinu takes place.