by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Dec 5, 2014 | Lifeline
The Medrash tells us many things not found in the written text of the Torah. It is, in fact, crucial to our understanding, because otherwise many passages could be misunderstood and misconstrued. Sometimes, however, statements in the Medrash appear to conflict with...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 28, 2014 | Lifeline
In Jewish sources, our forefather Yaakov is always identified with the character trait of honesty, of dedicating himself to truth. Sometimes this seems difficult to understand — after all, he deceived his father in order to claim the blessings of the firstborn...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 21, 2014 | Lifeline
The Torah reading this week begins: “These are the generations of Yitzchak ben Avraham, Avraham fathered Yitzchak” [25:19]. It seems redundant to say that “Avraham fathered Yitzchak” — the Torah has, by this time, presented in great...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 14, 2014 | Lifeline
Following the death of his wife Sarah, Avraham purchases the Machpela cave from Ephron the Hittite to use as a burial site. Ephron makes it sound as if he is prepared to give the cave to Avraham, but in the end takes a tremendous sum for the property. At the end of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 7, 2014 | Lifeline
Have you ever heard of Elimelech Goldberg? Don’t worry, I hadn’t either. [Dr. Elimelech Goldstein, the volunteer medical director of Hatzalah of Baltimore, is a friend and former roommate, but that’s another story entirely.] But if you’re...
