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Apr 2, 2015, 12:56 AM

Chad Gadya – Vilna Gaon Interpretation

One little goat, one little goat that my father bought for two coins One little goat, one little goat The following paragraph is a different interpretation as to what the first stanza is referring to. (The goat is the firstborn that Yaakov...

Jul 24, 2014, 1:41 PM

“The Land Shall be Conquered Before God”

What motivates the Jewish people to sacrifice their lives for the State of Israel? Why do we go to such great lengths to protect this sliver of land the size of New Jersey? Would it not be easier to...

Feb 28, 2014, 7:25 AM

Parashat Pekudei – The gift of teshuva

Last night, I visited the Kotel one last time before returning to America (hopefully Mashiach will come and I won’t have to go anywhere...). I was learning Rav Ovadia Yosef’s commentary on the Haggadah, and stumbled upon one of...

Feb 14, 2014, 5:05 AM

Parashat Ki Tisa/Purim Katan – Haman’s Golden Calf

Last year I downloaded a new iPhone app for Divrei torah on the weekly Parasha. That week's Parasha of the week is ‘Purim’. It seems that this week’s actual Parasha, Ki Tisa, and the Sin of the Golden Calf,...

Feb 7, 2014, 7:03 AM

Parashat Tetzaveh – Simhat HaTorah

The first pasuk of Tesaveh says, “take for you pure, pressed olive oil for illumination, to kindle the Menorah continually” (Shemot 27:20). The Ramban comments that when the Torah writes “continually”, it really means 24 hours a day. Many...

Jan 31, 2014, 7:17 AM

Parashat Terumah: The importance of education

Parashat Terumah begins a major thematic shift in the Torah. Up until this point, we have read about the birth of a nation. We saw the Jews suffering, how they were saved, and the ultimate giving of the Torah....

Jan 24, 2014, 8:01 AM

Parashat Mishpatim – The righteous dog

Hidden among the multitude of commandments listed in Parashat Mishpatim, 26 to be exact, we discover a particular strange mitzvah. Hashem writes, “And you shall be holy people to Me, and flesh torn in the field you shall not...

Jan 17, 2014, 3:37 AM

Parashat Yitro – The greatest wedding

Starting from the birth of Moshe Rabbeinu, we have been waiting for one scene. We sat through shul listening to Moshe’s upbringing, his realization that he is destined to save the Jewish people, the systematic process of redemption, and...

Jan 10, 2014, 7:17 AM

Parashat Beshalach – Who Cares What the Reason Is

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu zt”l told a story as follows: There was a certain intellectual who happened to step on a nail. He went to the doctor to get the nail removed but then the doctor noticed an infection from...

Jan 3, 2014, 6:35 AM

Parashat Bo – The Comfort of Shabbat

At the end of Parashat Bo, Moshe talks about Pesach and Bnei Yisrael’s redemption from Mitzrayim. He says, “Remember this day on which you departed from Mitzrayim, from the house of bondagem for with a strong hand Hashem removed...

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About Me

Nissim graduated from the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, MD, and then spent two years at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Ramat Beit Shemesh. He is currently studying accounting at Yeshiva University and plans to make Aliyah upon completing of his degree.