TORAH HAS BEEN called by the Talmud itself an “elixir of life” and an “elixir of death.” We’ve explained many times what determines which it will be for the person learning it. Derech Eretz, literally the “Way of the Land,” is the key because, in this context, it means good character traits such as humility, appreciation, truth-seeker, etc.

WHEN ESTHER ENGINEERED the downfall of Haman, she did it in two feasts. She didn’t try to take him down in ONE because she saw that he was on the rise at the time. God hates evil people, and you can be sure He did NOT care for Haman at all. But, history takes precedence, and sometimes, for reasons known only to God, evil has to go UP before it can go DOWN. 

Parashas Bo Issue – #831 By Pinchas Winston The Children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succos, about 600,000 on foot, the men, besides the young children. And also, a great mixed multitude went up with them, and flocks and cattle, very much livestock. (Shemos 12:37-38) WHO WOULD HAVE thought that the very parsha in…

    Parashas VaAira‏ Issue – #830- By Pinchas Winston. Moshe told it to the Children of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses because their spirit was broken, and because of the hardness of their work. (Shemos 6:9) HERE WE ARE, exactly 3,330 years since the first redemption from Egyptian Exile, waiting for…

Parashas Shemos‏ Issue – #829 By Pinchas Winston Now Yosef died, as well as all his brothers and all that generation. (Shemos 1:6) I ALWAYS FIND it somewhat depressing. You can feel the storm coming already by the end of last week’s parsha, with the death of Yosef. You can tell it’s going to be…