Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.

Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.

Vayera 5786
Lech 5786
Noach 5786
Haazinu Yom Kippur 5786
Vayelech 5786

Vayera 5786

This week's YouParsha - https://www.youtube.com/watch? The Back Story of the Akeidav=p7GNEdZPEog&t=95s

This week’s Parsha of Vayera, Genesis 18 - 22, continues with the life of the patriarch Avrohom. The last of the ten tests - the Akeida, involved Avrohom sacrificing his son Yitschok. The Talmud explains that G'd asked Avrohom to please offer his son so that the previous nine tests would not be for naught. This tenth test was the ultimate trial for Avrohom. Through it, we are told, Avrohom expressed true self-sacrifice.

There were some very demanding tests of Avrohom. Walking out of a furnace is no small feat. (With the same feet, no less) The akeida opened the channel for self-sacrifice for all of us. Self-sacrifice is a state of self-nullification. A relationship with the Almighty that supersedes intellect is required for one to give up their life. Avrohom, with the binding of his son Yitschok, surpassed his up-until-now-merely-intellectual relationship with Hashem. For one to give up their own life is one thing. To be willing to give up one's child is quite another.

We are required to include the portion of the Akeida in our daily prayers. The Code of Jewish Law explains that this facilitates the subjugation of our evil impulses to Hashem and prepares us to serve Hashem with the same intensity as did Yitschok.

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A parable from Reb Yisroel of Ruizhen: There were two friends who were very close. One of them was falsely accused of a crime, convicted and sentenced to death. When his friend came to the execution, he cried out loudly, "Leave that man alone! I committed the crime." The matter was brought before the king, who he summoned both men and asked them the truth of the matter. Only one of them could have committed the crime, so why is the other one willing to die in vain? The friend of the condemned man answered the king, "I know that my friend did not commit any crime. My life depends on my friend's life. It is better that I die and not see his death. In fact, if I have received such a punishment as having to see my friend's death, I must myself be deserving of death." The other man replied the same way. When the king saw the great love between these two men, he let them both free and requested of them that he be allowed in their circle of friendship.

When we reach the level of "you shall love your fellow as yourself," Hashem desires to rest His presence amongst us, so that we will also love Him, and that He will be our faithful Friend.


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