Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

''…a man when he brings from among you an offering to Hashem from the animals from the cattle and from the flock shall you bring your offering.'' (1,2)

Offerings

We know that the offerings have a superior spiritual level and degree in worshiping Hashem as it is the only task that is defined as a "satisfying aroma" for Hashem whereby Hashem is...Read more...

Nothing better

"… if any man of you would bring an offering near unto G-d from animals…" (1, 2)

On the verse in Tehilim (36) "A man and an animal G-d will save" our Rabbis say that as long as the sinner is still alive, he can remedy the situation by repenting. But if, G-d forbid, he dies without repentance, his only remedy is for him to return...Read more...

"And the cheubim were with their wings spread upwards… with their faces one to another…" (37, 9)

Unity and modesty

Concerning the verse "And the cheubim were with their wings spread upwards… with their faces one to another…" our Rabbis ob'm ask (Baba Batra) – Why does it say here that the cherubim were with their faces one to another? In...Read more...

"…if You wouldst, forgive their sin, but if not, blot me out, I pray, from Your book which You have written." (32,32)

His words did not go unanswered

We know that in the Parsha of Titzaveh the name of Moshe Rabeinu, the loyal Shepherd, does not appear at all. If we investigate, we find that when the Children of Israel sinned in the Sin of the Golden Calf the Creator wanted, G-d fobid, to anhilate the Children of Israel, as...Read more...

"The rich shall give no more and the poor no less than half a shekel…." (30, 15)

Half and not whole

We must know that the fact that Moshe was commanded to collect from the Children of Israel half a shekel and not a whole shekel entails great intention, for thereby the Torah comes to tell every person in Israel that a person never reaches...Read more...

The source of our sustenance

"And Moshe said, this is that which G-d commands – an Omer full of it is to be kept for your generations that they may see the bread wherewith I have fed you in the wilderness when I brought you forth from… Egypt." (16, 32)

The Divrei Yisrael says that even after the Manna has ceased coming down from Heaven, G-d...Read more...

Why did the Torah list the ancestry of Moshe and Aharon only in the Parsha of Va'era and not in the Parsha of Shmot when they were first mentioned?

"And G-d spoke to Moshe and Aharon and commanded them concerning the Children of Israel and concerning Pharoah... to bring the Children of Israel out of Egypt. These are the heads of their fathers' houses the sons of Reuven the firstborn of Israel Chanoch and Paullu Chezron and Carmi...."(...Read more...

"May the angel who delivered me from all evil bless the lads..... and like fish may they grow to a multitude in the midst of the world." (48,16)

Living like fish

Yakov wishes that G-d bless his grandsons through the same Angel through which He had delivered him from all harm; that they might live as he had, seeking and finding protection and...Read more...

''….He them had him dressed in garment of fine linen….He also had him ride his second royal chariot…'' (41, 42-43)

Yosef, Chanukah and Purim

The miracles of Chanukah and Purim were wrapped with natural circumstances.

Clarification for the so called natural miracles is alluded to in this Parashat...Read more...

"… someone wrestled with him until the break of day. And when he saw that he could not prevail against him he gripped the joint of his thigh…" (32, 25-26)

Future struggles

The angel, who was in reality the protecting angel of Edom attacked Yakov and attempted to destroy him. Yakov fought back and a struggle ensured. Yakov and the angel...Read more...

And I loved you, said G-d… and I loved Yitzchak and I hated Eisav." (Haftara, Milachi 1, 2-3)

Who deserves honor?

On the words in the Haftara "and I loved Yitzchak and I hated Eisav" our great distinguished leader the Ben Ish Chai says – Yakov Avinu and Eisav argued between themselves about who deserves honor first – Is it Eisav because he is the eldest born or is it...Read more...

"And G-d (Elokim) spoke to Moshe and said... I am G-d." (6,2)

The Trait of Judgment

On the words written at the beginning of the Parsha "And G-d (Elokim) spoke to Moshe and said... I am G-d" the Kisei Rachamim explains that here G-d spoke to Moshe with the Trait of Judgment. For every place that says Elokim aludes to the Trait of Judgment, and certainly when it says "spoke"...Read more...

"And you shall make illumination (צהר) for the ark and finish it down to one cubit (אמה) at the top..." (6,16)

To arouse the Trait of Mercy

Rabbi Gershon Stern, Rabbi of Marsh Lirash learned a wonderful allusion in this verse for the saying in the Gemara that the prayers of the righteous can change the Trait of Judgment into the Trait of...Read more...

How are the Children of Israel different than others?

"I have an easy mitzvah and it's called Succah" (Gemara Avoda Zara 3)

Our Sages say in the Gemara that in the Future to come the gentiles of the world will, as if, argue with G-d and say: Why are the Children of Israel different that only they deserve reward in the World to Come?

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"Instead of your serving G-d… in joyfulness and with gladness of heart through abundance of everything." (28,47)

May the year with its curses end and may the new year with its blessings begin

The Parsha of Ki Tavo is always read in the month of Elul, the last month of the year. We find an allusion to this in that which is written in Masechta...Read more...