Spiritual Stones
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Mrs. Shira Smiles explains how Yaakov placed the stones, and the symbolism of the argument between them.
Category: Chumash Bereishit
Prayer of Darkness
Posted onMrs. Smiles talks about Yaakov’s prayer to Hashem at night, which is the precedent for the Tefilla of Maariv.
Parshat Vayechi & The Tenth of Tevet
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Mrs. Shira Smiles talks about the fast day of the Tenth of Tevet, as well as the parsha for this week, Parshat Vayechi.
Mindset
Posted onAn analysis of the Torah’s topic of Jacob’s dream.
Parshat Vayechi: The Kaleidescope of the Jewish Land and People
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In discussing this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayechi, Rabbi Hershel Reichman speaks about the individual strengths of each of the Tribes of Israel and their beauty as a whole nation.
Parshat Vayigash: Hidden Tzadikim
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman discusses this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayigash. Rabbi Reichman teaches that Yosef’s greatness lies in his ability to be a perfect tzadik unbeknown to the outside world.
Woman’s Role
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles provides a discussion of the unfortunate incident of Shechem’s violation of Yaakov’s daughter, Dina.
Divination and Prayer
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles addresses the many questions that arise concerning the episode of Rachel stealing the idols of her father Lavan as Yaakov flees Lavan’s home.
Impression
Posted onContinues the analysis of Jacob’s dream and discusses the lessons learned from every word in the first passuk of the Parsha.
Heel of Messiah
Posted onLast installment of Akeidat Yitzchak class series, Expounds upon the topic of Akeidat Yitzchak.
Esav’s Message
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles expounds upon Parshat Toldot by delving into the message that Esav gives us.
The Whole Picture
Posted onAn 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
Posted onIn 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.