Close To Torah

Some of the most prominent days for the Jewish Nation took place under the reign of King Solomon. It is fascinating to note the greatness achieved by the Jewish nation under his leadership in that he was able to establish world peace and eradicate poverty and starvation throughout the nation. Rabbeinu Bechaya (Bereishis 38:30) states that just as the moon wanes and then waxes and reaches its fullest manifestation in… Continue reading

One of my favorite aspects about Sefer Shemos is that any Dvar Torah said about the parsha can be used at the Pesach Seder as well since the themes are the same! That being said, I hope that you enjoy this Parsha and Pesach thought. The beauty of it is that it really applies at all time.

One of the recurring ideas expressed regarding the Korban Pesach is that… Continue reading

Tehillim (Psalms) is perhaps one of the most universal books throughout the world. Men, women and children of all ages and faiths find comfort, meaning and expression through its recitation. King David is most famous for his authorship of Sefer Tehillim. The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni Mishlei 929) points out a most fascinating observation. Tehillim begins with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet: Alef (“Ashrei HaIsh”) and the last verse… Continue reading

One of the most integral themes of the Parsha is the Ten Plagues with which Egypt was smitten. What is fascinating to note is the fact that all ten of them are not contained in one Parsha. Rather, the first 7 are found in Va’eira and the last 3 are in next week’s Parshas Bo. It is well known that the Gematria, numerical value, of Bo (Beis Alef) is three… Continue reading

To the Close To Torah audience,

Close To Torah author and my close friend, Rabbi Yosef Radner, renowned author of the three volume Nachlas Mayim on Sugyas HaShas, and the weekly “Lomdus Shiur”, which brings lomdus out of the bais medrash to those who do not have the time to plumb the depths of a sugya and are thus deprived the enjoyment of lomdus, has started a new website – hosting all of his recorded and printed… Continue reading

We have gone through and learned the lessons of each verse in Aishes Chayil. Now what? One question that I have struggled to understand is how are we to view the Aishes Chayil’s greatness… We state, “you surpass them all” (in Letter Reish). Are we stating that the Aishes Chayil is better and greater than all of the noble women throughout Jewish history? Let us explore this.

The Gemara… Continue reading

Parshas Shemos begins the story of the Exodus and how Hashem saved the Jews from Egypt with great miracles and lessons culminating with their establishment as the Jewish Nation and receiving the Torah. Rashi (Shemos 1:1) states that the Torah lists off the names of the Jewish people in order to show Hashem’s love and endearment towards them. Even though they were counted earlier, never-the-less Hashem listed them off here… Continue reading

The Vilna Goan states that the verse of Letter Ayin refers to some of the Jewish holidays. “עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְֹחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, Strength and majesty are her dress; she joyfully laughs about the last day.” ‘Strength’ refers to Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur where Hashem’s power is shown and recognized in the world. ‘Hadar, majesty,’ refers to “Pri Etz Hadar, a beautiful Esrog fruit (Vayikara 23:40).” ‘She joyfully laughs… Continue reading

Yaakov Aveinu wished to ensure that even after his death his children would follow in the ways of the Torah. He gathered them together and suddenly lost his Ruach HaKodesh and the ability to tell them prophetically about the End of Days. He thought that perhaps one of them was incomplete with Hashem just as Avraham and Yitzchok had each bore one unworthy child (Yishmael and Esav) but they reassured… Continue reading

The Aishes Chayil song listed so many of the great gifts that Hashem bestows upon her and those that keep the Torah. She was blessed with: a spouse, children, health, success, nice clothing, beauty, wealth, charity, trust, love and so much more. Yet the Aishes Chayil is known to be modest and easy to get along with. How does she live life with so many blessings and not let it… Continue reading