Quick Dvar Torah of the week: Recent Episodes
Sruli Schochet
Do you have skeletons in the closet?
Understanding Miriam and Ahron's gossip about Moshe and how Moshe stayed humble.
5784
Behaalotecha - בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Is your work better than Hashem's?
Understanding Nadav and Avihus' mistake and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Shemini - שְּׁמִינִי
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Do you worry about earning a living?
Understanding the burnt sacrifice and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Tzav - צַו
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
When is the right time to be humble?
Understanding the small א vs the BIG א and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Vayikra - וַיִּקְרָא
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
How often do you really pray?
Understanding a powerful lesson about prayer from a verse about a Canaanite slave.
5784
Mishpatim - מִּשְׁפָּטִים
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Do you see the good in the bad?
Understanding why the Az yashir song starts with a future tense and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Beshalach - בְּשַׁלַּח
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Are you scared of the dark?
Understanding why certain Jews died during the plague of darkness and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Bo - בֹּא
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What makes you short of breath?
Understanding why the Jews did not listen to Moshe and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Va'eira - וָאֵרָא
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What kind of advice do you give?
Understanding Paroh's advisors' advice and the lesson thereof.
5784
Shemot - שְׁמוֹת
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What language do you speak?
Understanding how Yosef proved who he was to his brothers and the lesson thereof.
5784
Vayigash - וַיִּגַּשׁ
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What do you complain about?
Understanding how the brothers did teshuvah for selling Yosef and the lesson thereof.
Have a good Shabbos and a freilichin Chanukah!
5784
Miketz - מִקֵּץ
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What do your dreams mean?
Understanding how Yosef knew the meaning of the Butler's and Baker's dreams and the lesson thereof.
Have a good Shabbos and a freilichin Chanukah!
5784
Vayeshev - וַיֵּשֶׁב
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Are you an introvert or extrovert?
Understanding why Dina went out to see the daughters of the land and the lesson thereof.
5784
Vayishlach - וַיִּשְׁלַח
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Where do you fall asleep?
Understanding why Hashem made Yakov fall asleep in a holy place and the lesson thereof.
5784
Vayetze - וַיֵּצֵא
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Who do you look like?
Understanding why Yitzchak looked like Avraham and the lesson thereof.
5784
Toldos - תּוֹלְדֹת
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
What do you pray for?
Understanding from Eliezer how to get our prayers answered.
5784
Chayei Sarah - חַיֵּי שָׂרָה
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
When is a little water really alot?
Understanding Avraham's hachnosas orchim and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Vayeira - וַיֵּרָא
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Can you lie for a benefit?
Understanding why Avraham asked Sarah to lie and the lesson thereof.
5784
Lech-Lecha - לֶךְ-לְךָ
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Can you 'have' and 'lack' faith at the same time?
Understanding Noach's level of faith and the valuable lesson thereof.
5784
Noach - נֹחַ
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Do you start counting from 2?
Understanding why the Torah starts with the letter 'ב' and the difference between Jews and other nations regarding their connection to Hashem.
5784
Bereshit - בְּרֵאשִׁית
____________________________________
לזכות שמירת חיילי צה״ל וכל עם ישראל
Is there a way to prevent death? ☠⚰
Understanding the Jews' intention regarding Moshe's death and the powerful lesson thereof.
5784
Haazinu - הַאֲזִינוּ
____________________________________
לע״נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you seek those that hide?
Understanding why Hashem will hide himself and the powerful lesson thereof.
5783
Nitzavim-Vayelech - נִצָּבִים-וַיֵּלֶךְ
____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How loud is your voice?
Understanding the loud voice by bikurim and the lesson thereof.
5783
Ki Tavo - כִּי-תָבוֹא
____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When is it not okay to hang around?
Understanding the mitzvah of hanging an executed body and the lesson thereof.
5783
Ki Teitzei - כִּי-תֵצֵא
____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How do you avoid a pain in the neck?
Understanding the mitzvah of eglah arufah and the lesson for our daily lives.
5783 Shoftim - שֹׁפְטִים ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Is it a gift or necessity?
Understanding the severance gift to a slave and the proper attitude to giving charity.
5783 Re'eh - רְאֵה ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Hero or heel?
Understanding the way we do mitzvos today and the blessings it brings.
5783 Eikev - עֵקֶב ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When should you answer a question?❓
Understanding when a question is legitimate and the proper approach to it.
5783 Va'etchanan - וָאֶתְחַנַּן ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How does 345 = 1000?
Understanding the kind of prayers Hashem wants from us.
5783 Devarim - דְּבָרִים ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How clear is your vision?
Understanding the difference between Moshe and other Prophets, what that has to do with vows and the lesson thereof.
5783 Matot-Masei - מַּטּוֹת-מַסְעֵי ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How often do you forget?
Understanding why Moshe needed to ask Hashem regarding the inheritance of daughters and the lesson thereof.
5783 Pinchas - פִּינְחָס ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What name are you called by?
Understanding all the different terminologies used for the Jews and the power or prayer.
5783 Chukat-Balak - חֻקַּת-בָּלָק ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you wait before you complain?
Understanding why Korach waited to launch his rebellion and the valuable lesson thereof.
5783 Korach - קֹרַח ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you get punished for bad thoughts?
Understanding why the Jews were 'punished' with 40 years in the desert and the valuable lesson thereof.
5783 Shlach - שְׁלַח-לְךָ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Would you leave your friend behind in the desert?
Understanding why the Jews waited for Miriam and the lesson thereof
5783 Behaalotecha - בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Are you innocent just because you're not guilty? ⚖️
Understanding why we reward an innocent Sotah and the lesson thereof.
5783Naso - נָשֹׂא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Can the Jews be counted or not?
Understanding some of the phraseology in this week's parsha and the lesson thereof.
5783Bamidbar - בְּמִדְבַּר____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How much does your burial plot cost?
Understanding the ramification of Ribis (interest) and the lesson thereof.
5783Behar-Bechukotai - בְּהַר-בְּחֻקֹּתַי____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you believe or do you know?
Understanding the meaning and lesson of the Two Loaves brought on Shavuos.
5783Emor - אֱמֹר____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
To die or not to die, that is the question. ⚰️☠️
Understanding what Hashem really wants from us in this world.
5783Acharei Mot - Kedoshim - אַחֲרֵי מוֹת - קְדֹשִׁים____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Are you coming or going?
Understanding whether the metzora goes to the Kohain or if the Kohain comes to him and the lesson thereof.
5783Tazria-Metzora - תַזְרִיעַ-מְּצֹרָע____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What creates value?
Understanding the difference between metal and earthenware vessels and the valuable lesson thereof.
5783Shemini - שְּׁמִינִי____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Head, finger, (no knees) and toe.
Understanding why the Kohanim got blood placed on their ear, thumb and big toe, and the important lesson thereof.
5783Tzav - צַו____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Does bigger mean better?
Understanding what kind of sacrifice Hashem wants from us.
5783Vayikra - וַיִּקְרָא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How do you make a living?
Understanding how to make the whole week into Shabbos.
5783Vayakhel-Pekudei - וַיַּקְהֵל-פְקוּדֵי____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What is your method of giving charity?
Understanding the different ways of giving tzedaka and what they accomplish.
5783Ki Tisa - כִּי תִשָּׂא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What do you need protection from?
Understanding why the mizbaiyach hazahav (golden alter) is listed separately and the valuable lesson thereof.
5783Tetzaveh - תְּצַוֶּה____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How far in advance do you prepare? ⏱️
Understanding where the Jews got their cedar wood and the valuable lesson thereof.
5783Terumah - תְּרוּמָה____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Who were you in a former life?
Understanding the answer the Baal Shem Tov told the Maggid of Mezeritch on reincarnations and laws.
5783Mishpatim - מִּשְׁפָּטִים____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Where do you feel safe?
Understanding Moshe's reasoning for his sons' names and the lesson thereof.
5783Yitro - יִתְרוֹ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When is all-for-one not one-for-all?
Understanding the difference between Jewish unity and Egyptian unity.
5783Beshalach - בְּשַׁלַּח____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When do we punch out the teeth?
What the possuk says to tell the wicked son and the valuable parenting lesson thereof.
5783Bo - בֹּא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Is it better to be a staff or a snake?
The reason for the staff-to-snake-to-staff miracle and the valuable life lesson thereof.
5783Va'eira - וָאֵרָא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What did Moshe find out?
Understanding the epiphany Moshe had and why the Jews needed servitude.
5783Shemot - שְׁמוֹת____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What does the fox say?
Understanding the interaction between Yakov and Yosef and the lesson thereof.
5783Vayechi - וַיְחִי____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What makes you cry?
Understanding why Yosef and Binyamin cried and the lesson thereof.
5783Vayigash - וַיִּגַּשׁ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Are you young or old?
Understanding the importance of utilizing time.
5783Miketz - מִקֵּץ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Who invented the "Thank You, Hashem!" button?
Understanding the secret to Yosef's success and how to replicate it.
5783Vayeshev - וַיֵּשֶׁב____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Would you bow to an evil person?
The Kabbalistic explanation why Yakov bowed to Eisav seven times.
5783Vayishlach - וַיִּשְׁלַח____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How important are your words?
Understanding how Yakov married two sisters and the lesson thereof.
5783Vayetze - וַיֵּצֵא____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When is a tenth not a tenth? ⚖️
Understanding the relationship between Yitzchak and Eisav.
5783 Toledot - תּוֹלְדֹת ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Does Hashem prefer the action or the intent?
Understanding the lesson from Rivkah's drawing water from the well.
5783 Chayei Sarah - חַיֵּי שָׂרָה ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Is Hashem a warrior or an old man?
Understanding what Sarah's laughing has to do with Moshiach.
5783 Vayeira - וַיֵּרָא ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Why did Reb Nochum Chernobyler get arrested?
Understanding the test to Avraham of Lech Lecha and the lesson thereof.
5783 Lech-Lecha - לֶךְ-לְךָ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Why did the Tzadik pet the horse?
Understanding the Baal Shem Tov's solution to navigating the floodwaters of our lives.
5783 Noach - נֹחַ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
1+1=0?
Understanding how the snake tricked Chavah and the lesson thereof.
5783 Bereshit - בְּרֵאשִׁית ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Who is your doctor?
Understanding the key to unlocking blessings for health and wealth from Hashem.
5783 Haazinu - הַאֲזִינוּ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Is Hashem good at hide-and-seek?
Understanding how Hashem's hiding brings us to teshuvah.
5783 Vayelech - וַיֵּלֶךְ ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do we want to know the reward?
Understanding what is hidden by Hashem and revealed to us.
5782 Nitzavim - נִצָּבִים ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What can South Africa teach us about Bikkurim?
Understanding how to trigger a guaranteed kesiva v'chasima tovah.
5782 Ki Tavo - כִּי-תָבוֹא ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Why did Hashem turn the curses into blessings?
Understanding the love Hashem has for the Jewish people.
5782 Ki Teitzei - כִּי-תֵצֵא ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Would you betray your brother?
Understanding the punishment given to false witnesses.
5782 Shoftim - שֹׁפְטִים ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Can you tip the scale ⚖️?
Understanding how things can sometimes look bad, even if Hashem only provides good.
5782 Re'eh - רְאֵה ____________________________________
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you live in Israel?
Understanding Torah's secret to a long life.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Echo...cho...ho...o....
Understanding the strength of Hashem's voice.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Don't you hate repeating yourself?
Understanding the different approaches to chastising someone.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Fighting fire with fire.
Understanding the deeper meaning behind kashering vessels.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How important is a good yichus (lineage)?
Understanding Hashem's defense of Pinchas.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Can Hashem change His mind or contradict Himself?
Understanding Hashem's conversation with Bilaam.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Understanding why the manna, well and clouds were in the merit of Moshe, Miriam and Aaron.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How the letters of Korach's name show his mistakes.
Understanding the proper approach to life and religion.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Was Moshe playing favorites with Yehoshua?
Understanding the right way to be humble.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Should you feel guilty if you have it easy?
Understanding Aharon's ahavas yisroel and his reward.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Did you buy your wife some jewelry lately?
Understanding how to acquire and retain wealth.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you know how to make it rain?
Understanding how to earn Hashem's blessings.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Is it okay to ask?
Understanding how to get Hashem's blessing every time.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How is your wife a help to you?
Understanding the importance of connecting to a Tzadik.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Can you learn Torah while standing on one leg?
Understanding how loving your fellow Jew, helps avoid reincarnation.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Why did Iyov tremble in fear?
Understanding the requirement to speak up.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When do you get your mitzvos back?
Understanding the different levels of humility.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
If G-d wanted us circumcised, wouldn't he have created us that way?
Understanding what circumcision has to do with a woman's impurity at birth.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Can a prosecutor become a defender?
Understanding how Ahron brought a calf as a sacrifice to atone for the Golden Calf.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
How do you cover up your misdeeds?
Understanding what part of a sin really needs atonement.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Do you prefer sweet or sour?
Understanding why no honey or chometz can be brought on the alter.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What collateral do you care about the most?
Understanding how Hashem took a collateral from the Jewish people.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Was it extra or just enough?
Understanding the amount the Jews donated to Mishkan and what was done with it.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
When you argue with your wife, does she get historical?
Understanding how Hashem looks back at the Sin of the Golden Calf.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Whose name have you forgotten?
Understanding why Moshe's name is not mentioned in this weeks parsha.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Whose name have you forgotten?
Understanding why Moshe's name is not mentioned in this weeks parsha.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What do you find difficult to do?
Understanding the difficulty Moshe had with the menorah and the lesson thereof.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What do you find difficult to do?
Understanding the difficulty Moshe had with the menorah and the lesson thereof.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What type of guard are you?
Understanding the different levels of guard responsibilities and how it pertains to our lives.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
What motivates you to travel?
Understanding why Yisro left his home to travel to the desert.
לע"נ שרה מרים בת אברהם
Are you allowed to cry out when you are in pain?
Understanding the Jewish approach to dealing with the difficulties in ones life.
How was the future being predicted?
Understanding how to stay connected to the Shechina.
Why was Reuven's plan the pits?
Understanding the connection between the pit and Chanukah.
Why are there so many reasons for Yitzchak going blind?
Understanding the severity of Loshon Hara.
Why is the Torah missing the best stories?
Understand the requirement of self-sacrifice.
Is it better for your wife to ask you to wash the dishes, or to do it on your own?
Understanding what is greater: Torah study vs giving Tzedakah.
Who's responsible for your child's tuition?
Understanding Miriam bas Bilgah and the Jew-on-Jew responsability.
Do you sound like your wife?
Valuable parenting lessons from the ben soreh u'moreh (wayward son).
Can you do the mitzvah for the sake of the reward?
Understanding the reward for giving charity.
When is addition really subtraction?
Understanding the prohibition not to 'add' in your Judaism.
When is it good to forget your father?
Understanding who comes first: Menashe or Ephraim.
Is the Torah racist? Does it really consider non-Jews as sub-human?
Understanding about an impure dead body.
Was Moshe guilty of adultery?
Understanding Korach's claim and the lesson for Gimmel Tammuz.
Is it okay to impatiently wait for your father to die?
Understanding Nadav and Avihu 's transgression.
Showing thanks through eating.
What does eating matzah in Egypt have to do with inviting guests?
When is it okay to slow down on your donations?
Connecting the beginning and end of Sefer Shemos.
Ear today, not gone tomorrow.
The timing and reason of when we pierce the Jewish slave's ear
Yosef and Aishes Potifar - the conversation.
How to differentiate between the Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara
Is Esav better as a brother or an enemy?
The connection between Parshas Vayishlach and Purim.
Why are the Rabbis seemingly so critical of Noach?
Can you be a Tzadik and lack faith as well?
What did the grape say when the Nazir stepped on it? Nothing, it just let out a little wine.
Should we abstain from alcohol or not?
"I though for sure Moshiach was coming this Pesach! What went wrong? I am so disappointed..."
Listen to the answer from this weeks Parsha.
Did you ever wear tachash skin shoes?
What is the tachash and where else is it mentioned in the Torah?
Can you walk on your hands?
CAUTION: although some of the commentaries mentioned may seem "out there", remember it's all written with Ruach HaKodesh (Hayom Yom - 6 Shevat).
Listen to the end for alternate explanation.