by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jan 20, 2012 | Lifeline
After the impact of six plagues, Pharoah had no choice. He would have had to give up. The commentaries (Ramban and Seforno) say that when G-d told Moshe that “I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and I will increase my signs in my wonders in the land of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jan 6, 2012 | Lifeline
The blessing Jacob gives Judah concludes with the words: “his eyes will redden from wine, and his teeth white from milk.” Rabbi Yochanan says homiletically (Kesubos 111b) that you can read it as “teeth whiter than milk” — to give a smile...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Dec 23, 2011 | Lifeline
We read this week that two years after Pharoah’s wine steward and chief baker had their dreams, Pharoah had one of his own, and as a result, they rushed Joseph from jail. Obviously Pharoah needed Joseph, but the Torah tells us something deeper: that Joseph was...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Dec 8, 2011 | Lifeline
As our forefather Yaakov (Jacob) prepared to encounter his brother Esav again after 34 years, he did three things: sent presents, readied for war, and prayed. He balanced his prayers and trust in G-d with appropriate “worldly” efforts. He neither trusted...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Nov 24, 2011 | Lifeline
In this week’s portion, Yitzchak (Isaac) reopens the wells dug by his father Avraham, which the Pelishtim had filled with earth. To avoid argument with the shepherds of Gerar, Yitzchak digs multiple new wells, until he finally digs a well and there is no further...
