Torah Parallels

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Miketz and Chanukah I Think, Therefore I Am...Or Am I? By: Daniel Listhaus וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים וּפַרְעֹה חֹלֵם וְהִנֵּה עֹמֵד עַל הַיְאֹר :  וְהִנֵּה מִן הַיְאֹר עֹלֹת שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת יְפוֹת מַרְאֶה וּבְרִיאֹת בָּשָׂר וַתִּרְעֶינָה בָּאָחוּ :  וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת עֹלוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן מִן הַיְאֹר רָעוֹת מַרְאֶה וְדַקּוֹת בָּשָׂר וַתַּעֲמֹדְנָה אֵצֶל הַפָּרוֹת עַל שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר :  וַתֹּאכַלְנָה הַפָּרוֹת רָעוֹת הַמַּרְאֶה וְדַקֹּת הַבָּשָׂר אֵת שֶׁבַע הַפָּרוֹת יְפֹת הַמַּרְאֶה וְהַבְּרִיאֹת וַיִּיקַץ פַּרְעֹה :  וַיִּישָׁן וַיַּחֲלֹם שֵׁנִית וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים עֹלוֹת בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד בְּרִיאוֹת וְטֹבוֹת :  וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים דַּקּוֹת וּשְׁדוּפֹת קָדִים צֹמְחוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן :  וַתִּבְלַעְנָה הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַדַּקּוֹת אֵת שֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַבְּרִיאוֹת וְהַמְּלֵאוֹת וַיִּיקַץ פַּרְעֹה וְהִנֵּה חֲלוֹם “It happened at the end of two years to the day: Pharaoh was d...

~ Torah Parallels ~ 5-Bullet Friday This week is Parshas Miketz and Rosh Chodesh and Shabbos Chanuka! (#threesifreitorah #longestbentching) Check out this week's d'var torah here . Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday: Question I'm pondering (on the parsha):  Was there logic to the argument ? The passuk (44:8) records that after Yosef accused the brothers of stealing his magic goblet, the brothers responded that if they were even willing to return the money that was given back to them “accidentally” when they could have gotten away with it, then certainly they would not actively steal something from Yosef. Rashi comments that this is actually one of ten kal v'chomeir's found in the Torah. What exactly is the kal v'chomeir though? There seems to be an obvious pircha to the kal v’chomeir: Perhaps a magic goblet is something that would be worth taking since it seemingly gave Yosef power to know things about the shevatim that perhaps they would...

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Vayeishev Newton’s Law By: Daniel Listhaus וַיַּכִּירָהּ וַיֹּאמֶר כְּתֹנֶת בְּנִי חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ טָרֹף טֹרַף יוֹסֵף “And he [Yaakov] recognized it and he said, “My son’s tunic! An evil beast devoured him! Yosef has surely been torn to bits!” - Vayeishev  37:33 As one reads the story of Yosef and his relationship with the  shevatim  it is easy to recognize the sibling rivalry which existed. Yosef, being the first-born of Rachel, received special privileges and gifts from Yaakov, which his brothers did not. [1]  As if that was not difficult enough, the Torah relates that Yosef acted like a child. [2]  When he had his dreams about being superior to his brothers he not only did not keep it to himself, but even flaunted and repeated it in front of his brothers many times. [3]  Yosef would also be the first to put down his brothers and tattle-tale when he saw them doing improper things. [4] ...

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Vayishlach Angels in the Outfield By: Daniel Listhaus וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים לְפָנָיו אֶל עֵשָׂו אָחִיו אַרְצָה שֵׂעִיר שְׂדֵה אֱדוֹם :  וַיְצַו אֹתָם לֵאמֹר כֹּה תֹאמְרוּן לַאדֹנִי לְעֵשָׂו כֹּה אָמַר עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב עִם לָבָן גַּרְתִּי וָאֵחַר עַד עָתָּה :  וַיְהִי לִי שׁוֹר וַחֲמוֹר צֹאן וְעֶבֶד וְשִׁפְחָה וָאֶשְׁלְחָה לְהַגִּיד לַאדֹנִי לִמְצֹא חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ “And Yaakov sent  malachim before him to Eisav his brother to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. He charged them saying, “Thus shall you say, 'To My lord, to Eisav, so said your servant Yaakov: I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. I have acquired ox and donkey, flock, and servant, and maidservant and I am sending to tell my lord to find favor in your eyes.'” - Vayishlach  32:4-6             The Torah [1] describes that after Yaakov left Lavan's house, he sent...