New Updates

We updated the database to include the rest of the entries for the Ksav Sofer and the Ta’ama Dekra (Rav Chaim Kanievsky). B”H I was zocheh to complete these seforim.

Coming next, be”H: Noam Elimelech and the Brisker Rav on the Torah (I know, quite the combo…).

May all the learning from this website be bezchut the success and safety of our chayalim, the return of our captives, and the healing of the injured.

Besorot tovot!

Now with Links!

Complete: The Bechor Shor and Be'er Yoseph have been added to the database!

 Underway: Ksav Sofer and Ta’ama Dekra (Rav Chaim Kanievsky)- so far check out Bereishit and part of Shemot

 Also new: Links to the source text of the original source for all but Emes L’Yaakov and Darash Moshe (haven’t found those online anywhere). You can now click the link to read the source inside!

 Check it out and remember to please share your feedback! Spread the word to your friends!

Up Next: Bechor Shor

We continue to appreciate all the feedback from those who use this site. Please spread the word to your friends. Have any suggestions of which peirush to do next? We want to hear it.

We recently finished adding the entries for Rabbeinu Bechaye. We also have completed the Be’er Yoseph on Bereishit and Shemot. On to Vayikra…

I spent a lot of time looking for a copy of the now out-of-print Mosad Harav Kook edition of the Bechor Shor. I am indebted to my dear brother-in-law Rav Dovid Mintz who gave me a copy and I look forward to learning it.  The first few entries have already been added to the site.

What’s New?

Thank you everyone who has used our site! We are grateful for all of the feedback we have gotten. We recently added the Beis Halevi on Bereishit and Shemot, Rabbeinu Bechaye on Shemot through Devarim, and have just begun adding the Be’er Yosef.

I recently wrote an article for Mizrachi Magazine featuring a dvar Torah from VortFinder. The dvar Torah was originally posted at https://mizrachi.org/hamizrachi/the-ultimate-goal-in-having-children/

The Ultimate Goal in Having Children

The late Jeopardy host Alex Trebek famously used to remind his guests to phrase their answers in the form of a question. But it would not make sense for anyone to ask a second question when their first question remains unanswered.

After Avraham rescues his nephew Lot and helps the five kings vanquish the four kings, Hashem appears to Avraham and promises him a great reward (Bereishit 15:1).

The next verse begins with the phrase Vayomer Avram: Avraham asks Hashem, “What will You give me, as I am childless, and the possessor of my house is my servant Eliezer.”

Immediately after this, we do not find an answer from Hashem, but rather another question from Avraham: Vayomer Avram “And Avram said.”

Avraham rephrases his issue: “You have given me no seed,” and the only one to inherit him will be his servant, Eliezer.

Why do two consecutive verses begin with Avraham asking Hashem a question with no response in between and why do the two verses seem to ask the same question?

In his commentary Ha’Emek Davar, the Netziv explains that Hashem did not answer Avraham’s first question, which Avraham then realized was an inappropriate question, as Hashem had already promised him offspring. And so Avraham rephrased his question, clarifying the intent of his initial challenge to Hashem. Avraham is already old, so even though he is sure that Hashem will keep His word and provide him a child (banim), he has not given him zera (“seed”).

Avraham, sensing his mortality, is concerned; even if he has a child in his old age, he will not be alive to raise the child properly! If Avraham dies, his future child may inherit his possessions, but his servant Eliezer will raise his child! In other words, Avraham is saying to Hashem: It will be wonderful to have a child, but if I cannot raise him in the ways of Hashem, what’s the point?

More than anything else, Avraham wanted the opportunity to raise his son, for which Hashem later praises him: “For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice…” (Bereishit 18:19).

Avraham’s ultimate goal, and indeed our task as members of the Jewish nation, is not only to have children but to raise those children with the proper Torah values of righteousness and justice. Our goal is to raise children who will serve Hashem, fulfill the Torah and mitzvot, and build a holy society in Eretz Yisrael.

In this ever-important task, we are guided by our rabbis and community leaders.

Great leaders whom we are mourning this year, including Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, Rabbi Gedalia Dov Schwartz, Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski, Rabbi Norman Lamm, and Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, were concerned, first and foremost, with raising the next generation of Am Yisrael in the ways of Torah and mitzvot.

Although they are no longer with us, their teachings continue to inspire us to follow in the path of Avraham Avinu.

As Avraham expressed so long ago, this is our hope and our yearning, above all else.

In the Beginning…

Welcome to my new website!

 Just over 9 years ago I was zocheh to marry my Eishet Chayil. One major dream we both had was a home centered around Torah.  A big part of that goal is our Shabbat table.  We wanted Torah discussed at every Shabbat meal. For my part, that meant having at least 3 divrei Torah ready for each Shabbat.

 After about a year, I decided to do this in a more methodical fashion.  That year I learned through the Netziv’s Ha’emek Davar each week, with an eye for which part of his peirush I felt best lent itself to an interesting discussion topic or meaningful message.  That year I shared a Netziv at all 3 meals every week, and we really felt that the Netziv was our constant Shabbat guest in our home throughout the year.

 So I decided to do the same thing again with another peirush each year.  Some of the peirushim are a systematic commentary on the parasha, commenting on almost every pasuk (Ramban, Seforno, Netziv), while others are a collection of derashot compiled according to each parasha (Darash Moshe, Emes L’Yaakov, Chofetz Chaim, etc.).  But each year we felt that we were zocheh to have that author as a special guest at our Shabbos table.

 I am now in the middle of my ninth peirush (Sefas Emes), but after compiling these divrei Torah every week into an organized spreadsheet, I realized that this spreadsheet is now a resource that can be useful to many others.  Instead of having to go through an entire peirush, a person could search the database and be provided with a list of sources that experience shows could be used to formulate a Dvar Torah easily.  It could be useful to a shul rabbi who gives derashot every week, not to mention needing to speak multiple times a week at a shalom zachar, bar mitzvah, or other Simcha. It could be useful to someone who needs to speak at their family event, or someone who just wants a Dvar Torah at their Shabbos table.

 I’m zocheh to be a part of Yeshivat Har Etzion. For the past few years, a group of talmidim has joined me each week as I share one of these Divrei Torah with them. Those audio recordings are linked to in the search results, which may also prove helpful to many.

 This website is still a work in progress, so please give us your feedback.  We hope this website helps lehagdil Torah uleha’adira.

 Bevirkat HaTorah VeHamitzva,

Yonatan Shai Freedman