by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 23, 2017 | Lifeline
At first glance, one could attempt to compare the encounter between Yaakov and Rachel to a scene from a novel. The Torah previously described in detail how Avraham’s servant Eliezer journeyed to find a wife for Yitzchok, and brought her to him, sight unseen, to...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 17, 2017 | Lifeline
This week’s reading begins with Rivka’s pregnancy, which came about only after many years and many prayers. And then we read a verse which, according to Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki himself, begs further explanation: “And the children struggled within her,...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 20, 2017 | Lifeline
What on earth — or perhaps, off earth — did Nimrod and his followers think they could accomplish? How could building a tower enable them to “make war against G-d?” [Rashi to 11:1] Not only is the idea nonsensical, but they contradicted themselves:...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 15, 2017 | Lifeline
It is not in Heaven, such that one could say ‘who will go up to Heaven and take it for us’… For this matter is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it” [30:12, 14]. At first glance Torah observance can seem daunting, filled...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Aug 24, 2017 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we are told “you shall be ‘simple’ with Hashem your G-d” [Deut. 18:13]. As you might suspect, “simple” is a very incomplete translation of “Tamim,” which also means pure and unsullied. Our...
