by Mordechai Dixler | Jan 1, 2010 | Lifeline
In our reading this week, Yaakov blesses Yehudah by saying, “His eyes will be read from wine, and his teeth white from milk.” Rabbi Yochanon (Kesuvos 111b) changes one vowel and reads, “and to whiten his teeth from [more than] milk.” To give a...
by Mordechai Dixler | Nov 27, 2009 | Lifeline
I had planned to begin this week thanking the many people who volunteered to help us get the word out, by posting Torah.org flyers (or arranging to have them posted) on their campus or in their neighborhood. Instead, I must thank the few people who did so, all the...
by Mordechai Dixler | Nov 20, 2009 | Lifeline, What's happening
“For the Candle is a Mitzvah, and the Torah is Light.” Here’s an easy Mitzvah for you, that will spread the Light of Torah in time for Chanukah! All that’s required is your knowledge of your community, and a few moments of your volunteer...
by Mordechai Dixler | Nov 13, 2009 | Lifeline
When Sarah passes away, Avraham seeks out a burial place for her — the cave then belonging to Efron the Hittite. Efron shows us how to say much, and do little. Or more accurately, as Rashi says, “even a little he did not do.” Efron said to Avraham,...
by Mordechai Dixler | Nov 6, 2009 | Lifeline, What's happening
In our Torah reading this week, Hagar takes her son Yishmael (Ishmael) out into the desert, and then is afraid that he will die of thirst. An angel then says to Hagar that G-d has seen her son “where he is,” and G-d opens her eyes and she finds a well of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 30, 2009 | Lifeline
There is a very interesting Medrash connected to this week’s reading. The Medrash tells us that after Avraham circumcised himself, many people came to convert and join the Jewish People. The Bais HaLevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l of Brisk, asks:...
