Parasha Insights - Chabad of Great Neck

Admitting Flaws Can Give You More Credibility?

Friday, April 25, 2025 - 6:00 PM

The rule in Israel was that a new immigrant could bring ordinary household items duty-free. But anything that looked like it was for resale in Israel was supposed to be subject to import taxes.

Jack Levine, a new oleh, goes to the Haifa port to claim his household goods that have arrived by ship. The officer notices on the manifest that Jack is bringing in seven refrigerators.

"Mr. Levine," says the officer, "one refrigerator is allowed duty-free, not seven."

"But I'm very religious (frum) and I need one refrigerator just for meat, one just for dairy, and one just for parve," says Jack.

"All right," says the officer with a sigh, "that makes th… Read More »

WHAT PARTY IS ON THIS SUNDAY?

Friday, April 18, 2025 - 6:00 AM

It was the custom of the Baal Shem Tov to partake of three meals on the last day of Passover. The third meal, which took place late in the afternoon, was known as the "Festive Meal of Moshiach," or "Moshiach's Seuda," for on this day, the energy and light of Moshiach and the future redemption shine and are more revealed.

That is why the Haftorah read on the eighth day of Passover is Isaiah chapter 11, containing many of the majestic prophecies about redemption and Moshiach. Why on this day? Because the first two days of Passover celebrate primarily the past redemption, while the last days of Passover, especially the 8th day, represent the future Messianic redemption.

There is a strange statement in th… Read More »

Passover: The Courage to Change

Thursday, April 10, 2025 - 5:30 PM

Last Pesach, an Orthodox friend of mine, Shmuly, was at a business meeting during the middle days of the holiday. When lunchtime came, his colleagues went out to local restaurants, but Shmuly remained at the conference table and took out his matzah and hard-boiled egg. As he unwrapped it, another colleague joined him and unwrapped his lunch. It was ham and cheese on matzah.

The colleague looked at Shmuly with a relieved smile and said:
“Boy, I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's hard to explain Passover, isn't it?” Well, today I want to explain the name of the holiday.
Why is the holiday called ‘Passover’, or in Hebrew, Pes… Read More »

Why Am I So Clever?

Friday, April 4, 2025 - 6:02 AM

I always talk to myself; it is the only way to ensure intelligent conversation. A man

Something is intriguing you will notice in any Torah scroll in the opening word of the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, Leviticus.

The opening words of the book are: “Vayikra El Moshe,” "He called to Moses." The Aleph of the word for "He called/vayikra,” the first word in the Book of Leviticus, is written smaller than usual. The aleph is written in miniature.

This is how it has been since the first Torah Scroll was written by Moses 3300 years ago. But why? What is the significance of this?

Contrast this with one more place in the Tanach where the Alef is written in&n… Read More »