Apr 24, 2025
Shemini | The Sound of Silence: Vayidom Aharon, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
How are we to understand Aharon's silence? Aharon's reaction to the death of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, is summarized in two words: וידם אהרן. Translation, meaning and implications of these two words are the fodder for much exegetic and...
Jan 22, 2025
Vaera | Pharaoh's Wizards (and the Parenthetic Phrase), by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
Why did the חרטומים imitate the first two plagues - and why were they stymied at the third?
חרטומי מצרים - the wizards of Egypt - make 5 appearances in the Exodus narrative; the first and last are easily understood but the...
Jan 16, 2025
The Education of Pharoah, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
As we begin our reading of Sefer Shemot, the grand story of Yetziat Mitzrayim unfolds before our eyes. We are all aware of the "Ten Plagues" with which Hashem punished the Egyptians - but why was there a need for plagues at all? If the goal was to redeem His "firstborn...
Jan 9, 2025
Vayechi | Ad Ki Yavo Shilo: Solving A Biblical Riddle, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
Yaakov's deathbed blessing to Yehuda, at which point he appoints/designates or foretells his fourth son's ascendancy to leadership of the nascent nation, is replete with philological and exegetical difficulties. The central verse of his...
Jan 2, 2025
Vayigash | Yaakov's Daughters, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
How many daughters did Yaakov have? (it's not so simple...)
As we all know, Yaakov had 12 sons and one daughter; he had over 45 grandsons and - one granddaughter. This is the information given to us throughout the second half of Bereishit, culminating in the list...