Sruli Fruchter, at The Blogs

Dec 6, 2019, 7:27 AM

Parshat Vayeitze: Deception and Delusion

Deception is taking advantage of people’s trust, capitalizing on their vulnerable state which expects your honesty. In Parshat Vayeitze, we read about the infamous trickery of Lavan, a reminder of the fundamentally corrupt nature of deceit; many commentators reveal...

Nov 29, 2019, 10:49 AM

Parshat Toldot: Challenging Our Assumptions of Yaakov and Esav

In Parshat Toldot, a saga of sibling-rivalry, deception, and covenantal destiny takes place. The Torah begins with Rivka’s pregnancy of Esav and Yaakov, as Hashem tells her: “two nations are in your womb... and the older shall serve the...

Nov 22, 2019, 10:12 AM

Parshat Chayei Sarah: The Benevolence of Sarah, my Zaidy, and my Bobi

This Shabbat, we read Parshat Chayei Sarah which mourns the loss of Sarah Imeinu (our matriarch), dying at 127 years old. Similarly, after Shabbat through Sunday night (26th of Cheshvan), I mourn the yahrzeit of my Zaidy, Israel Fruchter...

Nov 15, 2019, 9:45 AM

Parshat Vayera: Living in a World of Godliness

We create the world we live in. Our perspective on life, our conceptualization of everyday events, and our relationship with Hashem all affect how we perceive our environment. Charitable acts can be understood by one person as giving money...

Nov 8, 2019, 9:52 AM

Lech-Lecha: The Journey of Self-Awareness

We have lived with ourselves all of our lives, but how many of us can claim to know ourselves? It is paramount that we start exploring and understanding ourselves because we are going to be together forever. In Parshat Lech-Lecha,...

Nov 1, 2019, 6:36 AM

Parshat Noach: For the World’s Sake, Believe in Yourself

As Earth’s standard of morality began to collapse in Parshat Noach, society itself began to crumble. Seemingly, the plummet of the world’s ethical state had reached a point beyond repair, as even the animals were corrupted. Then, the Torah...

Oct 25, 2019, 12:17 AM

Parshat Bereishis: Achieving the Greatest Good

It’s quite perplexing to consider, but think: Would the world have been better if humans were not created? Well, this is an actual machloket between Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel (Masechet Eruvin 13b). Without delving into the philosophical underpinnings...

Oct 20, 2019, 10:11 AM

Simchat Torah: Seeing and Seeking Hashem

We conclude our Sukkot festivities with Simchat Torah, celebrating the conclusion of the Torah-reading cycle. This is a day of immense joy and ecstasy, one which evokes a powerful sense of fulfillment amongst the Jewish people. Rav Nathan Hirsch shared...

Oct 18, 2019, 4:23 PM

Parshat V’Zos HaBracha: Don’t Compromise Your Self-Worth

We protect what we hold dear and cherish what is valued to us, but how often do we treat ourselves as such? The feelings of inadequacy and existential lacking seem to have washed over so many of us, becoming...

Oct 13, 2019, 7:34 PM

Sukkot: Building a temporary home and permanent emunah

Every year, we designate a place outside where we can assemble our sukkot; we create a frame, erect our walls, cover the open ceiling with s’chach, and design its interior. For the following eight days (seven in Israel), we...

About Me

Sruli Fruchter studied for one year at Yeshivat Orayta and is now studying at Yeshiva University. He enjoys writing on a spectrum of topics, including the weekly parsha and the Palestinian-Israel conflict.