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.

Toldos 5787
Chaya Sora 5787
Vayera 5787
Lech Licha 5787
Noach 5787

Chaya Sora 5787

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This week's YouParsha Vayera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAET3VkfF_o. The Binding of Isaac.

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Click on the link to be directed to this week's YouParsha www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwBtIAryvgI. Sara is the Body, Avrohom is the Soul

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This week, we find ourselves in Parshas Chaya Sora, Genesis 23:1 - 25:19. Avrohom instructed his servant not to take a daughter from the local Canaanites to be his son Yitschok's wife. Instead, the servant was to go to Padam Aram and find Yitschok's cousin Rifka. Why? The people of Canaan were familiar with Avrohom. They referred to him as a ruler and judge. The people in Aram had disdain for Avrohom. Aram was one of the lowest spiritual places on earth. Eventually, Avrohom was forced to leave it because of the people's conviction to worship idols.

Avrohom realized that the Canaanites were low class. Here he was indeed looked upon as a ruler, but the Canaanites continued to be idolaters, even with all the effort and influence Avrohom tried to exert. He could find a leniency with the people in Aram as no one was available to help the people with monotheism. They could be excused for their actions.

Everyone is a shliach - messenger of the Almighty. Wherever one may go, they are required to help another person to do the right thing. For a Jew - it is instilling a sense of excitement to perform the Torah and mitzvahs the best way possible. For non-Jews, it is adhering to the seven laws of Mankind. We are the Avrohoms. It is up to us.

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The Tsemach Tsedek, Third Lubavitcher Rebbe, had a servant named Chaim Ber. Chaim Ber came down with a lung ailment for which the doctors knew no cure. He went to the Rebbe for a blessing for good health.

The Tsemach Tsedek said to him, "When it comes to lungs, the Bais Yosef (Yosef Caro - author of the Shulchan Aruch) is lenient. Move to Israel, where the Bais Yosef is the authority and you will have long life." Chaim Ber was stunned. How could he leave his Rebbe yet, how could he not follow the Rebbe's advice?

Then a very daring idea occurred to the chosid. "Rebbe," Reb Chaim Ber cried out. "I will move to Israel, but Jewish law clearly states that a master who frees his servant must give him a gift. By moving to the Holy Land, I will no longer be able to serve you. I only ask that you grant me one request and give me a 'gift' before I depart."

The Rebbe asked, "And what is this gift?" Chaim Ber answered, "I want to be able to see the Rebbe - even in Israel." The Tsemach Tsedek became silent. After a few minutes, he smiled at Chaim Ber and said, "Very well, you shall have your gift."

Chaim Ber and his family moved to Israel where he merited seeing his grandchildren get married. He never told anyone of his "gift". One day, he called his entire family together and began instructing them what to do with his estate and how his funeral should be managed. One of his sons objected saying that the father was perfectly healthy. Chaim Ber then related his audience with the Tsemach Tsedek from years past. "Last night, I saw the Tsemach Tsedek," he said. Chaim Ber passed away later that day.

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