Sharona Margolin Halickman, at The Blogs

Jan 14, 2025, 3:16 AM

In Shmot 2: 23-25 we read: During those many days, it happened that the king of Egypt died and B’nai Yisrael groaned because of the work and they cried out (vayizaku). Their outcry (shavatam) due to the work went up...

Jan 7, 2025, 3:36 AM

The Jewish Royal Family

Part of Yaakov’s bracha to Yehuda is found in Breisheet 49:10: The sceptre (shevet) will not depart from Yehuda, nor a law enforcer (mechokek) from between his descendants until Shilo arrives, and to him shall be an assembly of nations. According...

Dec 30, 2024, 2:50 PM

Coming full circle

Parshat Vayigash opens with the following words (Breisheet 44:18): Yehuda approached Yosef and said, “Please master, let your servant speak a word in my master’s ears, and do not be angry with your servant; for you are equal to Pharaoh.” According...

Dec 24, 2024, 7:30 PM

Why did Yosef personally sell the food?

We learn that Yosef was the second in command to Pharaoh in Parshat Miketz, Breisheet 41:41: Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Behold, I have placed you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” In Breisheet 42:6 we read: Yosef was the ruler...

Dec 16, 2024, 4:33 AM

The difference between our freed hostages & Pharaoh’s butler

In Parshat Vayeshev, after Yosef interprets the dream of Pharaoh’s butler and explains to him that in three days he will be freed from jail and back at work, Yosef makes a request (Breisheet 40:14-15): Remember me when things go...

Dec 10, 2024, 7:37 PM

Keeping the Faith

In Parshat Vayishlach (Breisheet 32:7-8) we read: The messengers returned to Yaakov saying, “We came to your brother, to Eisav, and he is coming to meet you; and there are 400 men with him.” Yaakov was very frightened and distressed....

Dec 3, 2024, 6:28 PM

Did Yaakov recite Tehilim?

In Parshat Vayetze, Breisheet 31:38-40, Yaakov explains to Lavan: These 20 years that I was with you, your ewes and she-goats never miscarried, and I did not eat any rams of your flocks. I never brought you a mutilated animal....

Nov 27, 2024, 12:04 AM

What was so bad about Esav’s wives?

In Parhsat Toldot, Breisheet 26:34-35 we read about Esav’s wives: Eisav was 40 years old when he married Yehudit, the daughter of Be’eri, the Hiti, and Bosmat, the daughter of Eilon, the Hiti. They were a source of “morat ruach”...

Nov 19, 2024, 5:54 PM

What did Queen Ester have in common with Sarah?

Parshat Chayei Sarah (Breisheet 23:1) begins with the words: The lifetime of Sarah consisted of one hundred years, twenty years and seven years. These were the years of Sarah’s life. The Midrash, Breisheet Rabba 58:4, comments on the number 127: Rabbi Akiva...

Nov 12, 2024, 3:28 AM

Did Avraham Give Up the Gaza Strip?

The story of the Akeda, The Binding of Yitzchak (Breisheet 22:1) begins with the following words: After these events, God tested Avraham... Rashbam, in a very long commentary, explains how the story of the Akeida came as a result of the...

About Me

Sharona holds a BA in Judaic Studies from Stern College and an MS in Jewish Education from Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University. Sharona was the first Congregational Intern and Madricha Ruchanit at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, NY. After making aliya in 2004, Sharona founded Torat Reva Yerushalayim, a non profit organization based in Jerusalem which provides Torah study groups for students of all ages and backgrounds.