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3 essays
Yisroתשפ״ו
Honor Guard
The essay explores the grand welcome Yisro received upon arriving in the desert, featuring Moshe, Aharon, and according to some Midrashim, the Aron Hakodesh. It argues that this display of honor was not 'worldly honor' but a demonstration of the principle that 'true honor is only Torah.' By leaving his high status to study Torah, Yisro transitioned into a new ontological category—a 'Ben Torah'—where honor is an essential definition of one's spiritual elevation rather than a destructive character trait.
Medrash
Mishpatimתשפ״ו
Six of One
The essay explores why the Torah mandates a six-year term for a Hebrew slave (Eved Ivri), linking the number six to the days of Creation and the six historical exiles (Galuyos). It argues that just as exile is intended for character refinement and spiritual growth, the servant's tenure is meant to be a transformative period; failing to leave after six years indicates a failure to internalize the message of Divine servitude established at Har Sinai.
Medrash
Vayechiתשפ״ו
The Great Impediment
The essay explores the cryptic blessing 'Veyidgu Larov' given to Ephraim and Menashe, specifically examining a Medrash that links their speech impediment (the 'Shibbolet' incident) to the nature of fish. It argues that this physical impediment was actually a sign of spiritual elevation, where the Neshama is so dominant that it becomes disconnected from the physical act of speech, mirroring the developmental stages of Moshe Rabbeinu's own speech.
Medrash