Parsha with Rabbi David Bibi

Shelah - The Pschology of Perception and Feeling Holiness 

BeHaalotecha - Everyone is watching you - Kiddush Hashem

Naso - The Nazir, The Sotah and repairing the sin of Adam and Chava 

Bemidbar - Ben Adam LeAdam and Ben Adam LeMakom

Ruth - From Apathy to Kindness - A Journey  Judges who Judged - What does that mean? How do we understand Boaz? Why a famine?  Who is the hero? 

Behar 5782 - The source of Bitachon - Miracles are Real ! 

Emor - Pesach Sheni and Second Chances - Thank You Yosef 

Kedoshim - VeAhavta LeReyacha KaMocha  Each of us is a letter in the Sefer Torah Each of us has a path  But we are on the same circle   In unison towards receiving the Torah 

ACHAREI - The Sacrifice of the Son's of Aaron - A different perspective  Based on the Shvilei Pinchas and the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh 

Why do our ancestors pray for us in heaven particularly during Nissan?  We understand why we eat Matzah, but does Hashem care if we eat chametz?  Bread of Shame and earning the light?  The Dark Side wants revenge for an unfair fight.  Don't wave a fistful of cash in the street.  Growth through earning.   

Every Rosh Hodesh Connection to faith Imbues special power which lasts the month Rosh Hodesh Nissan permeates through the year Change and overcome luck, fate and gezerot

 Please be sure to listen to PART 2  Tomorrow is the fourth Sabbath in the cycle of special Sabbatot that come in the spring time before Purim and Passover.   It is also a triple header. The rare case of when we open the Hechal and we take out, not, one and not two, but three Sifrei Torah to read from as we do on Simcha Torah.   In addition to Simcha Torah, a triple header comes when Shabbat falls on Rosh Hodesh Tevet during Chanukah, Rosh Hodesh Adar and as tomorrow Rosh Hodesh Nissan.   

 Visiting cemeteries  Raising souls   Reciprocal relationships   The birds nest of souls   

Moses and Rabbi Eliezer King Solomon and his question Abraham and dust and ashes Vaccine and the Red Heifer The secret to Humility 

Rav Kanievsky Z'SL and the sons of Aaron, Short Class  Protocol and Guidance  Connecting one generation with another 

Vayika Zachor Wiping Out Amalek  The Little Aleph in Vayikra  The failure of King Saul  The Nachash  The throne of Haman  Hanging from a tree  The source of Amalek's power Wiping out Amalek 

Vayakhel / Shekalim - Little Effort Big Reward - Based on the teachings of HaGaon HaGadol Rav Moshe Wolfson shlit”a 5779 Do 600,000 half shekels add up to Haman's bribe? The essence of berachah is multiplication; when something is blessed, it becomes quantitatively more. The angel of Chodesh Adar is called אברכיא'ל – which includes in it the word ברך , a term of blessing.

Vayakhel 5781 Besalel and understanding Yirah

The Golden Calf The assasination of Hur  Why was Aharon HaKohen subjected to the devastating ordeal of making the egel ?  And Haran died in the lifetime of his father Terah  Aharon accepted upon himself the blame for making the egel in order to save Yisrael from extermination 

Tesaveh - Olive Oil and Doves - Moses Correcting Noah 5779

The secret to two Adars The battle with Amalek  Born in a leap year  Why do we need a Mikdash Is it limiting?  The Embassy  How was Besalele's vision different from Moshe's

Rabbi Chiya responded to Rabbi Chanina, “How do you dare argue with me? For I make sure the Torah is not forgotten from Yisrael to begin with. What do I do? I go and sow flax; then I weave nets from the flax. I trap deer with them, and I feed their meat to orphans. Then I prepare scrolls of parchment (with their skins),and I write the five chumashim (of the Torah on them). I goto the village (where there is no one to teach the children), Iteach five children the five chumashim (each one a different chumash), and I teach another six children the six orders of theMishnah (by heart—each child a different order). ThenI say to them, ‘Until I come back, teach each other Torah and teach each other Mishnah.’ Thus, I ensure that the Torah will never be forgotten from Yisrael.”    Taking into account all that we have discussed, we learn a fundamental principle. The Bet HaMikdash above in the heavens represents the letters י”ה , which stand for ;י’שמחו ה’שמים whereas the Bet HaMikdash down below on earth represents the letters ו”ה, which stand for ו’תגל ה’ארץ .   

MISHPATIM 5779 Netivot Shalom – 4 ways Our Yeser tries to damage us  The four legged dining table The four elements  Rectification 

Mishpatim and Reincarnation – Short Class Based on Shvilei Pinchas Three or Four Strikes and you're out!   'And these are the laws that you shall place before them,' which Onkelos translates: 'And these are the laws that you should order before them,' which means, these are the orders of reincarnation, the laws of the souls, that each one is judged to receive its punishment.  HKB”H created man out of four basic elements: fire, wind, water and earth—aish, ruach mayim, afar. These four elementscorrespond to the four letters of the name Havaya. Had man, not sinned with the Tree of Knowledge, his body and soul wouldhave existed in perfect harmony with regards to the four elements;and he would have lived forever.   The purpose of offering a korban is to make amends for the damage one’s transgressions have caused to the four basic elements: “aish,” “ruach,” “mayim,” and “afar.”  

Resurrection and being born again every day!  Learning to see the world through new eyes.  The Dew of Torah Déjà vu all over again

Yitro – Eliminating Evil 5780 The Secret of overcoming Raah  Rashi comments: There is a star whose name is ' רעה ' (Ra’ah). Pharaoh said to them, “I see through my astrological predictions that star ascending to meet you in the midbar; and it is an omen of blood and killing.”   'What did Yitro hear that made him come? He heard about the splitting of the sea and the war against Amalek.'  Yes, we are the chosen people. Yes, we stood at Sinai and heard the words of the Creator Himself. Yes, G-d is involved in each of our lives moment by moment. We see it in the miracles of our own day; the miracles of the six day war and the miracles of building a land. A generation ago the death knell was heard, the tolling of the bell was impossible to miss, both Jews and non-Jews predicted the demise of a Torah observant people. Yet today we see more people learning than at any other point since the destruction of the Temple 2000 years ago. We see more acts of kindness and charity. This is a G-d’s miracle. But we have seen up close what Amalek can do. And still today there is Amalek in the world.   

Naaseh VeNishma Thought and Action Joe R Bibi A'H 5782  Connection to BeShalach: We are told that Amalek was able to attack only because we weren’t studying properly.   LOH HAMIDRASH Ikar ELEH HAMaaseh   Tefilin shel yad and tefilin shel rosh  We see that NACHSHON is granted that his children will become kings when he jumps into the sea.  

This teaches us that the sea split for Yisrael in the merit of their “emunah.” Therefore, those tzaddikim who believed in Hashem and his loyal servant Moshe, and jumped into the raging waters without fear for their lives, deserved to have the sea split on their behalf.  The Sea Split a Second Time Specifically for Datan and Aviram  The Sea Was Enraged by Datan and Aviram 

BeShalach 5780 Shvilei Pinchas Galut Daat HKB”H said to Moshe “Those dear to me are drowning in the sea, and you linger before Me in prayer?” Moshe responded: “What am I to do?” HKB”H replied: “Speak to Bnei Yisrael and let them journey. And you, lift up your staff and stretch out your arm over the sea.”  It is man’s task to ensure that the three intellectual aspects in the brain control the seven-character traits of the heart — not allowing them to satisfy his heart’s desires.   This is the modus operandi of the yetzer. It introduces doubt and uncertainty into a person’s heart and mind: Why are you learning this subject instead of another subject? Why are you serving Hashem in this way and not in that way? In this manner, itconfuses man to the point that he is uncertain as to how to act and proceed.  

Three plagues of Darkness Borrowing the dishes  The promise to Abraham  Why dishes?  Why borrow? Killing the gods of Egypt 

Moses in a state of shock and embarrassment runs back to G-d and complains. “Why did you do evil to these people? Why did you send me? From the moment I arrived at Pharaoh to speak in your name, only more evil befell the nation. And obviously I did not do anything to save your nation.”  Hashem assures Moses that he will now see what will be done to Pharaoh and how Pharaoh will set the people free. But Hashem doesn’t seem to answer Moses question, or does He?  The rabbis point out that the strange combination found in the opening words of this week’s portion are in essence an answer from G-d to Moses. We begin with the words, Vaydaber Elokim – as we have explained in the past this verb for speaking denotes a harsh tone from the aspect of Elokim or strict justice and the same verse concludes, Vayomer Elav Ani Hashem. Again as we noted thisverb denotes a soft loving tone and concludes with the name Hashem or Havaya denoting the aspect of loving kindness. Hashem in essence is telling Moses, although you perceive Me coming to you and the people with harshness, judgment andcruelty, in reality I am coming to you with kindness as Ani Hashem.   

The joy of Chodesh Shevat    The secret of the month Shevat and the kavana for sanctifying it.   Understanding the waves of Shovevim   Punishment for Substituting pledges even with something better.   Changing minds. Yitro, Pharaoh and Moses. Why can’t we stick to our guns.   Moshe’s grandson becomes a priest of avoda Zara. How can that be?  Overcoming the snake's doubt.  What’s our lesson?   How can we fix things ?    Based on the teachings or Rabbi Abittan and Rabbi Aderet as recorded January 2021

VaEra - HaKarat HaTov - SHort Story - A Silver lIning in Jerusalem  How far is a Jew required to go to give Hakarat HaTov?   We read last week, “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know of Joseph' . Our Sages ask: can it be that he did not know of Joseph?   Rav Ovadia showed tremendous hakarat hatov and appreciation.   You need to try to picture this ragtag group as the clock struck midnight, in front of an alley bar with the music playing. Black hats, baseball hats, army caps, crochet knit Nachman caps and plain old yalmakahs, all together.  

 Shemot - I want to be your neighbor!  Who chased whom out of the Garden of Eden?   Why not send baby Moses away or come up with some other way to hide him; why risk killing him by putting him into a basket by the water?  Why did Yocheved choose this specific day to place Moses by the water; what was so special about that day which gave her confidence?   Who did the daughter of Pharaoh see in the basket with Moses?   How can one refuse a personal and direct request from Hashem?  What’s was the basis of such a refusal by Moses at the burning bush and later by Yirmiyahu as we see in the Haftara?  What does Pharaoh know that makes him wonder why Moses would want to take Benai Yisrael into the desert?  What do we learn about appreciation and recognition of good in this perasha?  How do we make sense of the sign which doesn’t seem like a sign that Hashem gives to Moses?  Why would man need to pray for Hashem‘s salvation?  Why didn’t the brothers return at the the time of Jacob’s funeral to stay in Canaan? Were they forced to keep their family and cattle in Egypt or was it a decision? And if they were forced why not gradually sneak out over the next 50 years that Joseph was inpower?  What does it mean when we learn that someone living outside of Israel is like an idol worshiper?    

The Nile River was an Egyptian deity and Pharoh intended to drown the Jewish children in the impurity of the Egyptian deity.  If Yocheved realized that Moshe had the power to negate the klipeh of the Nile, why did she hide him for three months. What was so special about the day she placed him in the water? By extending her arm to rescue Moshe, she rescued herself from the decree of death, allowing her to enter Gan Eden alive.  What was the power of the Tevah ?  Based on the teachings of Rabbi Pinches Friedman  

The umbrella of protection based on the teachings of Rabbi Abittan and Rabbi Aderet    The attempts at a tikun of Kayin in the book of Bereshit and our continuing job.   Daf Yomi helps a driver get out of a traffic ticket.  Does slavery truly begin with the death of Jacob or is it 80 years later?  Decoding Jacob’s blessings to his grandchildren and to his children.  The origin of the Vulcan nerve pinch by Spock  Finding refuge within the tent of the study hall.  

Vayechi - Jacob Never Died - What does that mean to Us?  Jacob the Paradigm of Truth  Emet and immortality  Children are the legs of their parents  The world was created with three separate alphabets of 22 letters relating to the 66 who went down to Egypt Adam Man and Dam Blood Emet Truth and Met Death Amonay - G-d and Din - Judgement Achieving Immortality

Today we fast in commemoration of Nebuchadnezzar’s seige of Jerusalem which resulted in the destruction of the First Bet HaMikdash. The fast day is simply called Asara BaTevet. strange thing about the Tenth of Tevet is that when it falls out on a Friday, we don’t push it off or push it back, We fast on Friday unlike other fasts. And Avudraham suggests that were it to fall out on Shabbat, we would even fast on Shabbat and we only do that when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat. Why? We commemorate the siege only while on other days we remember the more difficult anniversaries of the breaking of the walls and the destruction itself. What makes the Tenth of Tevet different?   This fast almost always falls during the week we read Vayechi. Vayechi Yaakov which translates as Jacob lived seems to be more about Jacob dying rather than living.   The weekly portions always are demarcated; they begin either on a new line, or on the same line as the end of the previous portion but after a space large enough to have nine letters written in it. Vayechi is an exception, in that there is no space at all between the end of last week's parsha, Vayigash, and the beginning of Vayechi - the last word of Vayigash is followed immediately by the first word of Vayechi.   Rashi quotes two explanations of this unique phenomenon. 'Why is this parsha 'stumah' [closed, or sealed, i.e., written immediately after the end of the preceding parsha with no space in between]? Because once Jacob died, the eyes and hearts of the Israelites were closed by the oppression of their subjugation, for it was then that they [the Egyptians] began to subjugate them. Another explanation is that Jacob wanted to reveal the “end” to his sons, but it was closed to him.'     

VaYigash We cannot live in a world of only Chesed 5781 Yehudah Crashed into Yosef  Understanding Elokim vs Havaya  Who will be chosen King? Mechilah and Kappara  Recovering from mistakes makes the king.   

Being drawn upwards with the flame!   Are we celebrating a victory or a miracle?   The eight day holidays celebrated by Adam and the origin of pagan winter celebrations.   The Hellenists are alive and well in our generation and the challenge of Hannukah remains.   Joseph to Pharaoh: Interpretation or advice?   Qualifications to run the country.   Connecting Yesod with Binah   How do we do that?   

Yosef Prepared a Chanukah Feast and Gave Binyamin Five Portions Corresponding to the Five Reasons Binyamin Merited Having the Chanukah Miracle Occur in His Territory based on the Shvilei Pinchas 

VaYesheb - Yosef was a Gilgul of Chanoch who transformed alive into the angel Matat. Based on the teachings of the Shvilei Pinchas    If Chanoch went to heaven alive, what tikun was to be accomplished through Joseph?Chanoch’s Shortcoming Was that He Failed to Rebuke the People of His Generation  Yisrael in Mitzrayim neshamos that had corrupted their ways in the generation of the flood   The Connection between Chanoch and the Passuk: “חנוך לנער על פי דרכו”  Yosef Possesses the Same Numerical Value as Melech Yavan   The Preferred Mitzvah Is to Place the Chanukah Candles outside one’s door    

The Ten Dreams of Bereshit Dream Interpretation  Asking through a Dream  BE Careful who you tell a dream to Dreams are 1/60th of prophecy 

 “Yaakov was left alone and a man wrestled with him!” Who Fought with Yaakov and what was at stake?  Based on Rav Pinchas Friedman   Esav’s Guardian Angel Fought with Yaakov Avinu on Account of the Third Bet HaMikdash   Why does the gemara write an obvious grammatical mistakewhen it writes: “Rabbi Yaakov Pays Half-Damages”?  Why does Yaakov not take in Timna and how does that relatethe the Two Letters “Samech-Mem” of סמא'ל?   Yaakov Avinu Was the Tikun of Adam HaRishon Who BroughtDeath to the World!    What does the midrash mean when it tells us that HKB”H minimizedthe Stature of Adam HaRishon to One Hundred Cubits?   

The battle continues  Little jars and shattered vessels.   Putting me to work in the mines  Is my brother a vampire?  The butterfly in the cocoon  Two men living inside one body.   The process may be painful but it produces  A peaceful reunion in Petra