Author's posts
Mar 02
Similarities!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
The great genius of Vilna, the Vilna Gaon, makes the following enigmatic play on words: “The holiest day of the year, Yom HaKipurim, is likened to the Holiday of Purim!” Now, on face value there are no days of the year more polar opposite than Yom Kippur and Purim. As we know, Yom Kippur is …
Feb 23
Eyes!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
We spent this past Shabbos at the home of our children, Rabbi Reuven and Gitty Epstein, in Toms River, New Jersey and attended the Shul which is led by Rabbi Meir Boruch Turin, a Scranton native. The Shul was graced with a visiting Rabbi from Israel, Rabbi Simcha Scheinberg, who gave an inspiring speech during …
Feb 16
Beyond Range!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
Immediately following the Parsha of Yisro, which narrates G-d’s Revelation at Mount Sinai, the portion of Mishpatim, which means laws, is presented. It may appear surprising that the first law listed concerns a Jewish person who was in a dire situation and wound up either being sold or sold himself to a Jewish master. The …
Feb 09
Cow!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
There are certain acts of kindness that the recipient never forgets. He regularly reflects on the kindness and seeks to emulate it. One such kindness that I personally experienced goes back 37 years. When I was engaged, my cousin Chesky Paneth came over to me with an envelope containing $400 to treat me to my …
Feb 02
Going Beyond!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
The other day, a friend called me and told me the following story: In the Shul that he attends, he was introduced to a person who does driving on the side to supplement his income. Although using Uber is more economical, he hired the driver for an early pick up the next day. That evening …
Jan 26
Pause!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
The fourth of the Ten Commandments is that we must remember and observe the holy day of Shabbos. The institution of Shabbos is so that we remember that G-d ceased from creative activities on the seventh day of creation. In addition, the Torah states that it is a remembrance of our servitude in Egypt. The …
Jan 19
The Leader!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
Pharaoh stubbornly disregarded G-d’s overwhelming power shown to him and his people through the plagues. Since Pharaoh so severely misused his freedom of choice, G-d took it away from him. Therefore, from the fifth plague on, although under normal circumstances Pharaoh would have conceded and let the Jews out, since he had abused his power …
Jan 12
Usher!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Shemos
The Parsha introduces us to the servitude of the Jews in Egypt. It is no surprise that the Jews were enslaved, because years before, when G-d appeared to our forefather Avraham at the Treaty of the Halves, G-d informed Avraham that his descendants will be enslaved, because of a slight infraction of Avraham who asked …
Jan 05
A Boost!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Beraishis
At the end of the life of our forefather Yaacov, his son Yosef came to his bedside with his two sons, Menashe and Efraim. Yaacov proclaimed that these grandchildren, Efraim and Menashe, will each be a tribal head among the ranks of his own children. Yaacov then spread out his hands to bless Efraim and …
Dec 28
Pristine Scroll!
- By Dovid Saks in 5783, Beraishis
I’ll share some of the laws and traditions involved in the writing of a Sefer Torah. Hashem entrusted us, His special nation Klal Yisroel, with the responsibility of representing Him in this world by upholding and observing the Torah He gave to us. On the last day of his life, our leader Moshe wrote …
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Rabbi Dovid Saks, Director
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