In last week’s torah portion, Vaera, we see a progression in G-d’s lesson to Egypt and Pharaoh: Moshe appears to Pharaoh and says, G-d sent me to demand Let My People Go. Pharaoh replies, who is your G-d, I have never heard of Him.  Exodus 5:2. G-d brings in the lice, and Pharaoh’s court…

  This week’s torah portion starts with: “There is a new king ruling Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” How could it be that Joseph had saved Egypt and the region from famine, and the new king did not know Joseph.  He might have known about Joseph, but this king did not KNOW Joseph. The…

  As we approach the winter solstice, one might say it is the darkest day of the year in our hemisphere, or one might say that it is the beginning of longer, lighter days to come. What if the Iranian Ayatollah grabbed the chief rabbi of Iran’s wife, and took her as his own?  There…

  The New York Time’s review was raving, from plot to music to lyrics. HUHHHH???? I was pumped.  A friend gave me a lone ticket to this show and I heard it was a hot new ticket.  It sure looked like it from the long lines stretching in both directions from the entranceway starting an…

  I hate winter.  I hate the cold and long nights.  I hated having school in winter, and dislike having my children in school during winter, the early morning rise and the homework and projects at night.  UUUUggghhhh.   While it’s snowing, snow is fine, also if one wants to ski, snow is necessary.  Hot…

[Parenthetically, I have received so many emails asking about my son, Yosef Yeshaya ben Sara Leah.  BH he is stable, but still in need of our prayers.  Thanks so much for your outpouring of love and kindness.  I am so grateful for your tefilot and concern.] It is believed that the Pilgrims came to America…

A BISSEL TORAH: PARSHAT TOLDOT: ACTUALIZING POTENTIAL By: Suri Davis   The torah portion this week reveals that Rivka is finally pregnant, and when she walks in front of a yeshiva, she feels extreme kicking.  When she walks in front of a house of idols, she feels extreme kicking.  The medrash tells us that she…

When I first started practicing law, about thirty years ago, older clients came in, and almost 100% of them would have had their mortgages paid off.  Not so anymore.  One of the major reasons so many now still have outstanding mortgages is to pay for their skyrocketing healthcare. Medicare is an entitlement, which means that…

  In this week’s torah portion, Chayei Sarah, we learn that Satan told Sarah that Isaac had been sacrificed on an altar, she cried and then died.  As I mentioned in last week’s dvar torah, Sarah’s tears were not for naught, they are utilized every Rosh Hashanah, to move G-d’s mercy as we blow the…