PAIN IN THE NECK Parashat Vayigash When  the goblet of Yosef was found in Binyamin’s bag, all the brothers of the Tribe started to hit Binyamin on his neck saying, “Thief! Son of a thief! Just as your mother stole the idols from her father Lavan’s house, you, too, followed in her footsteps and stole…

   THE  BELIEF OF A DEAD MAN Parashat Miketz Beliefs are powerful. A fellow walked into the office of the psychiatrist, looking healthy, successful, but concerned. After an hour of therapy, the psychologist could not figure out what was bothering the person. “What is it that you are concerned about?” “Dr., it is strange, but I…

  LOSING CHESS Parashat Vayishlach In Sipurim Mehachaim (and Anashim Mesaprim Al Atzmam 6) Chaim Walder tells an amazing story. By shortening it, I am doing it a great injustice. Forgive me. Miriam was an 8 year old girl, an only child, who lived in Poland. Her father owned a factory, and she lived in a…

ABSOLUTE PARENTING Parashat Toldot Yitzhak was criticized by the sages for not rebuking Eisav enough. The Midrash tells about some other “parenting mistakes”. Avraham did not rebuke Yishmael enough, and King David did not admonish Avshalom, or Adoniah, and that is why they became who they became. On the other hand, Avraham reproved Yitzhak, and…