Zera Shimshon
Published Mantua 1778 · by Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani
See the new page, above, for Toldot Shimshon!
Preface
- Akdamut Milin (Introductory Words) (47 pages)
- Also available in Hebrew: אקדמת מילין-מבואר ומנוקד (33 pages)
Sefer Bereisheet (Genesis)
Chapter I: Bereisheet (Gen. 1:1–6:8)
- Essay 1 – The Torah begins with the language of blessing (16 pages)
- Essay 2 – Why not begin the Torah with the Jewish people's first mitzvah? (17 pages)
- Essay 3 – G‑d proclaims three things Himself: famine, plenty, and a good leader (7 pages)
- Essay 4 – Bathsheva was ordained for David from Creation (10 pages)
- Essay 5 – Joshua's power to make the sun stand still (7 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – A teaching of proper behavior and humility (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Consulting the souls of the righteous (5 pages)
- Essays 9–10 (not yet translated)
- Essay 11 – The initial concealment of heaven and earth (3 pages)
- Essays 12–15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – The creation of gold (2 pages)
- Essay 17 – The greatness of gold (3 pages)
- Essays 18–20 (not yet translated)
- Essay 21 – Sleep is one-sixtieth of death (2 pages)
- Essay 22 – Punishment for Eve and the serpent (2 pages)
- Essays 23–27 (not yet translated)
Chapter II: Noach (Gen. 6:9–11:32)
- Essay 1 – The offspring of Noah (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The sin of Noah (7 pages)
- Essay 3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Corruption and violence (7 pages)
- Essay 5 – Why G‑d wanted to destroy the earth (4 pages)
- Essay 6 – Strict justice for the wicked (7 pages)
- Essay 7 – The raven debates Noah (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – The punishment of Babel (4 pages)
- Essay 9 – Salvation from fiery furnaces (6 pages)
Chapter III: Lech Lecha (Gen. 12:1–17:27)
- Essay 1 – The death of Terah (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – Abraham's commitment to the mitzvot (4 pages)
- Essay 3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – G‑d's guarantee of children for Abraham (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – A foreshadow of a change of name (3 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – A blessing for Israel and the priests (4 pages)
- Essays 8–13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – Abraham chooses between Exile and Gehenna (4 pages)
- Essay 15 – Lot had the same appearance as Abraham (3 pages)
- Essays 16–20 (not yet translated)
- Essay 21 – Tension between Abraham and Sarah (2 pages)
- Essay 22 (not yet translated)
- Essay 23 – A call for judgment (2 pages)
- Essay 24 – Why did the angel tell Hagar her son would be a robber? (2 pages)
- Essays 25–28 (not yet translated)
- Essay 29 – A numerical analysis of the letters of the name "Isaac" (1 page)
- Essay 30 (not yet translated)
Chapter IV: Vayeira (Gen. 18:1–22:24)
- Essays 1–4 (not yet translated)
- Essay 5 – Why would the angels ask Sarah where Abraham was? (3 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Sarah's pregnancy (4 pages)
- Essays 8–12 (not yet translated)
- Essay 13 – Lot enriched himself at the expense of Sodom (2 pages)
- Essay 14 – The people of Sodom were like the generation of the Flood (6 pages)
- Essay 15 – Fire and brimstone (3 pages)
- Essay 16 – The covenant of salt (2 pages)
- Essay 17 (not yet translated)
- Essay 18 – Sending away Ishmael (3 pages)
- Essays 19–24 (not yet translated)
- Essay 25 – Greeting one's teacher on a Festival (2 pages)
- Essay 26 – The binding of Isaac (4 pages)
Chapter V: Chayei Sarah (Gen. 23:1–25:18)
- Essay 1 – A review of Eshet Chayil (a Woman of Valor), Proverbs 31:10–31 (38 pages)
- Essay 2 – The lifespan of a righteous person (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – Abraham's eulogy of Sarah, and the effect of the death of a tzaddik (7 pages)
- Essay 4 – The complex negotiations between Abraham and Ephron (10 pages)
- Essay 5 – A) The neighbor's law, and the hatred of gifts; B) The kindness that Abraham showed Sarah; C) Abraham's life was not shortened as punishment; D) The destruction of Sodom (15 pages)
- Essay 6 – Why Torah was given to man rather than to the angels (13 pages)
- Essay 7 – The merit of charity (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – Why Abraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac (7 pages)
- Essay 9 – A) Eliezer's ulterior motive in seeking a wife for Isaac; B) The match of Isaac and Rebecca was ordained by G‑d; C) Eliezer's reliance upon miracles; D) The ulterior motives of Laban and Bethuel (14 pages)
- Essay 10 – The downfall of Adonijah (4 pages)
Chapter VI: Toldot (Gen. 25:19–28:9)
- Essay 1 – Righteous descendants and wicked descendants (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The connection between fathers and sons (6 pages)
- Essay 3 – Rashi's insights into Rebecca's twins (7 pages)
- Essay 4 – Was David bloodthirsty? (6 pages)
- Essays 5–6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Isaac's blindness and the timing of his blessings (9 pages)
- Essay 8 – Why one can't know the day of his death (4 pages)
- Essay 9 (not yet translated)
- Essay 10 – Falsehood leads to premature death (4 pages)
- Essay 11 – Miracles for an individual or for many people (6 pages)
- Essay 12 – Appreciating the kindness of G‑d (2 pages)
- Essay 13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – Isaac blessed his son despite foreseeing some bad descendants (3 pages)
- Essay 15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – Learning Torah is greater than honoring one's parents (4 pages)
Chapter VII: Vayetzei (Gen. 28:10–32:3)
- Essays 1–3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Jacob's dream confirmed that he held the birthright (3 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – The gateway to Heaven (3 pages)
- Essays 7–8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – Jacob and the shepherds (3 pages)
- Essay 10 – The protection of Rachel and Zipporah (3 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – A maidservant for Rachel (2 pages)
- Essays 13–15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – Accepting Manasseh's false regret (3 pages)
- Essay 17 – Esau will fall to the descendants of Rachel (2 pages)
- Essay 18 – One must avoid even the appearance of dishonesty (3 pages)
- Essay 19 (not yet translated)
- Essay 20 – Discipline and encouragement of a wife and child (2 pages)
- Essay 21 – A maidservant for Rachel (1 page)
- Essay 22 (not yet translated)
Chapter VIII: Vayishlach (Gen. 32:4–36:43)
- Essays 1–2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Obadiah's rescue of one hundred prophets (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – Did Jacob give consecrated property to Esau? (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – A prayer against uninterrupted hardship (6 pages)
- Essay 6 – The mercy of a father for his children (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – Three realms and three sanctifications (8 pages)
- Essay 8 – Why does Scripture continue to refer to Israel as "Jacob" (9 pages)
- Essay 9 – Terms used for different groups of righteous (5 pages)
- Essays 10–11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – The altar named "El, G‑d of Israel" (4 pages)
- Essay 13 – A wise son and a foolish son (3 pages)
- Essay 14 (not yet translated)
Chapter IX: Vayeishev (Gen. 37:1–40:23)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – Jacob's desire to dwell in tranquility (7 pages)
- Essay 3 – Joseph's punishment for the bad reports (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – Joseph's beauty, and his father's preference for him (7 pages)
- Essay 5 – The virtue of silence (9 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – How Joseph's brothers felt about his dreams (2 pages)
- Essay 8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – The sin of the tribes will be remembered forever (2 pages)
- Essay 10 (not yet translated)
- Essay 11 – Judah and Joseph sanctified G‑d's Name (6 pages)
- Essay 12 – The blessing that Joseph brought to Potiphar's house (3 pages)
- Essay 13 – The rewards for avoiding temptation (7 pages)
- Essay 14 – The importance of Torah study on the Sabbath (3 pages)
- Essay 15 – Joseph's trust in the L‑rd (3 pages)
- Essay 16 (not yet translated)
Chapter X: Mikeitz (Gen. 41:1–44:17)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – The custom of women not to work on Chanukah (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – Why David receives credit for building the Temple (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – "Two years of days" (4 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Pharaoh's dreams and selection of Joseph (5 pages)
- Essay 7 – Why was Pharaoh's dream doubled? (4 pages)
- Essay 8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – The collection of grain (3 pages)
- Essay 10 (not yet translated)
- Essay 11 – The realization of Joseph's first dream (2 pages)
- Essay 12 – The secret return of the brothers' funds (1 page)
- Essay 13 – Jacob was angry that the brothers told the Egyptians about Benjamin (3 pages)
- Essay 14 – The reaction of the brothers to the return of their funds (4 pages)
- Essay 15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – Five insults and defenses (4 pages)
- Essay 17 (not yet translated)
Chapter XI: Vayigash (Gen. 44:18–47:27)
- Essay 1 – The judgment of the goblet (6 pages)
- Essay 2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – The recognition of Joseph (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – The circumcision of the Egyptians (4 pages)
- Essays 5–6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Don't benefit from a stingy person (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – Joseph remained righteous (4 pages)
- Essay 9 – Why Jacob prayed "to the G‑d of his father Isaac" (4 pages)
- Essay 10 – Why would Jacob say the Shema Yisrael upon meeting Joseph? (3 pages)
- Essay 11 – The impurity of the Jewish people does not prevent G‑d's embrace (3 pages)
Chapter XII: Vayechi (Gen. 47:28–50:26)
- Essays 1–2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Jacob's selection of Joseph to arrange his burial (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – The oath to bury Jacob in the Land of Israel (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – Joseph's disinterested kindness (2 pages)
- Essay 6 – Joseph's participation in Jacob's burial (5 pages)
- Essay 7 – Why would Jacob want Israel to suffer exile? (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Jacob explains Rachel's burial to Joseph (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – Jacob blesses Joseph's sons (5 pages)
- Essays 10–11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – The meaning of "brothers" in Jacob's rebuke (4 pages)
- Essays 13–14 (not yet translated)
- Essay 15 – Jacob is alive (3 pages)
- Essay 16 (not yet translated)
Sefer Shemot (Exodus)
Chapter XIII: Shemot (Ex. 1:1–6:1)
- Essays 1–2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Several miracles supported Israel's population growth in Egypt (3 pages)
- Essay 4 (not yet translated)
- Essay 5 – The Egyptians wanted to convert Israel's holiness to impurity (2 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Why Moses was placed in a basket of bulrushes (4 pages)
- Essay 8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – The burning bush and the Egyptian Exile (4 pages)
- Essay 10 – Rebuking an idolatrous Levite (4 pages)
- Essays 11–12 (not yet translated)
- Essay 13 – The Levites were exempt from servitude in Egypt (3 pages)
- Essay 14 – The relationship of four verses (5 pages)
- Essay 15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – A challenge and a punishment (5 pages)
- Essay 17 – Moses questions G‑d about the long Exile (5 pages)
Chapter XIV: Va'era (Ex. 6:2–9:35)
- Essay 1 – A promise to be fulfilled, but with some punishment (3 pages)
- Essays 2–3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Why Israel wouldn't listen (8 pages)
- Essay 5 – Is "Putiel" a worthy or shameful name for Jethro? (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – Amram's marriage to his aunt (2 pages)
- Essay 7 – The defective hearts of the Egyptians (5 pages)
- Essay 8 – The death of the fish during the plague of blood (2 pages)
- Essay 9 (not yet translated)
- Essay 10 – The plague of frogs (11 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – Israel's salvation from the plague of wild beasts (6 pages)
- Essay 13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – G‑d doesn't want praise from the wicked (1 page)
- Essay 15 – The fifth and seventh plagues: pestilence and hail (3 pages)
- Essay 16 – The false divinity of Pharaoh (2 pages)
- Essay 17 – Lice, boils, and darkness (1 page)
Chapter XV: Bo (Ex. 10:1–13:16)
- Essays 1–2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – The timing of the tenth plague (4 pages)
- Essays 4–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Twelve permutations of the Name and the fall of Egypt (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – The mutual respect between Moses and Aaron (3 pages)
- Essays 8–11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – The scope of the tenth plague (4 pages)
- Essay 13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – Matzot and mitzvot (4 pages)
- Essay 15 – Saving those who are poor in mitzvot (4 pages)
- Essay 16 – The wealth of nations (4 pages)
- Essay 17 – Avoiding roasted meat at the Passover seder (3 pages)
- Essay 18 – The division of the Passover sacrifice into three groups (6 pages)
- Essay 19 (not yet translated)
- Essay 20 – Why is the law of the Passover sacrifice called a statute? (4 pages)
- Essays 21–22 (not yet translated)
- Essay 23 – Haggadah: Salvation from our enemies (4 pages)
- Essay 24 – Haggadah: Jacob's descent to Egypt was not voluntary (3 pages)
- Essay 25 (not yet translated)
- Essay 26 – Haggadah: Ancestral sin and Divine compassion (5 pages)
Chapter XVI: Beshalach (Ex. 13:17–17:16)
- Essay 1 – The end of Exile and the role of Pharaoh (4 pages)
- Essays 2–7 (not yet translated)
- Essay 8 – Belief in Moses (2 pages)
- Essays 9–10 (not yet translated)
- Essay 11 – Haggadah: The obligation to eat four olive bulks of matzah (2 pages)
- Essays 12–13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – G‑d won't hit Israel with the diseases brought upon Egypt (3 pages)
- Essay 15 – Torah study provides protection (4 pages)
- Essay 16 – Accepting suffering with love (4 pages)
- Essay 17 – Not responding to insult (3 pages)
- Essay 18 – Preparing for the Sabbath (3 pages)
- Essay 19 – Forty full years of manna (1 page)
- Essays 20–22 (not yet translated)
- Essay 23 – The altar at Rephidim (2 pages)
- Essays 24–25 (not yet translated)
Chapter XVII: Yitro (Ex. 18:1–20:23)
- Essays 1–4 (not yet translated)
- Essay 5 – Delivery from the hand of Egypt (2 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Strict justice or compromise (2 pages)
- Essay 8 – A judge must seek true judgment (4 pages)
- Essay 9 (not yet translated)
- Essay 10 – Placing women first (3 pages)
- Essays 11–14 (not yet translated)
- Essay 15 – Creation and Sinai (4 pages)
- Essay 16 – The five names of Sinai (5 pages)
- Essay 17 (not yet translated)
- Essay 18 – The guarantee of the children (3 pages)
- Essay 19 – Moses's reluctance to descend Mount Sinai to warn the people (2 pages)
- Essays 20–21 (not yet translated)
- Essay 22 – Recognizing the L‑rd and not committing murder (7 pages)
- Essay 23 (not yet translated)
- Essay 24 – Not using G‑d's Name in vain, and not stealing (2 pages)
- Essay 25 – Remembering the Sabbath, and not bearing false witness (5 pages)
- Essay 26 – Honoring one's parents, and not coveting (4 pages)
- Essays 27–31 (not yet translated)
Chapter XVIII: Mishpatim (Ex. 21:1–24:18)
- Essay 1 – The Torah's civil laws (6 pages)
- Essay 2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Retroactive rebellion: The timing of the pierced ear (8 pages)
- Essay 4 – Who is responsible for burning the Temple? (5 pages)
- Essay 5 – The connection between money and blood (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – Admission of guilt of theft is a mitigating factor (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – A bribe versus compensation for lost employment (2 pages)
- Essay 8 – Do not oppress a stranger (2 pages)
- Essay 9 – Promises of offspring, long life, and sustenance (5 pages)
- Essay 10 – Serve G‑d with wholehearted love, not with expectation of a reward (3 pages)
- Essay 11 – Isaiah's apparent contradiction of Torah (5 pages)
- Essay 12 – "They beheld G‑d" (5 pages)
Chapter XIX: Terumah (Ex. 25:1–27:19)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – Making the Torah our property (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – Understanding the three layers of Torah (3 pages)
- Essays 4–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Donations for the Tabernacle (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – A gift offering, conditional vow, and strict vow (2 pages)
- Essay 8 – The tachash: pure and impure (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – Acacia wood (4 pages)
- Essay 10 – Was there one Ark of the Covenant, or three arks? (3 pages)
- Essays 11–13 (not yet translated)
Chapter XX: Tetzaveh (Ex. 27:20–30:10)
- Essay 1 – Three laws that perplexed Moses (8 pages)
- Essay 2 – The olive oil required for the menorah and the meal offerings (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – Moses' refusal to serve (11 pages)
- Essay 4 – The 11th and 12th stones of the choshen (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – The limitation that some sacrifices be "without blemish" (8 pages)
Chapter XXI: Ki Tisa (Ex. 30:11–34:35)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – Why G‑d consulted both Moses and Israel about Bezalel (3 pages)
- Essays 3–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Preparing for the Sabbath (3 pages)
- Essays 7–8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – The gift of Torah (2 pages)
- Essay 10 – Two equal tablets (2 pages)
- Essay 11 – Better to be commanded (3 pages)
- Essay 12 – The shame of the Golden Calf (2 pages)
- Essays 13–17 (not yet translated)
- Essay 18 – A promise and forgiveness (3 pages)
- Essays 19–22 (not yet translated)
- Essay 23 – The importance of G‑d leading the way (2 pages)
- Essay 24 (not yet translated)
- Essay 25 – The ownership of the Tablets (2 pages)
- Essay 26 – Attending to the needs of the community (3 pages)
- Essays 27–30 (not yet translated)
Chapter XXII: Vayakhel (Ex. 35:1–38:20)
- Essay 1 – The Tabernacle's construction yields to the Sabbath (7 pages)
- Essay 2 – The purpose of public gatherings (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – Kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Sabbath (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – The blessing of a natural ability to learn (2 pages)
- Essay 5 – The punishment of the missing yod (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – Why Rashi twice mentions Hur's lineage (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – Atoning for the Golden Calf (9 pages)
- Essay 8 – The wisdom of Bezalel (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – The nations seek to destroy the love between G‑d and Israel (3 pages)
Chapter XXIII: Pekudei (Ex. 38:21–40:38)
- Essays 1–2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Judgment and reward for one balanced between sins and mitzvot (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – Delaying the setting up of the Tabernacle (6 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Moses and the setting up of the Tabernacle (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – Sanctification of four priests (4 pages)
Sefer Vayikra (Leviticus)
Chapter XXIV: Vayikra (Lev. 1:1–5:26)
- Essay 1 – Moses' contribution to the Tabernacle (2 pages)
- Essay 2 – The importance of beseeching G‑d for our needs (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – The ownership of an animal brought as a burnt offering (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – Why the slaughter of an offering does not require a priest (6 pages)
- Essay 5 – Atonement and the power of the Shaliach Tzibur (12 pages) NEW [5/14/2026]
- Essay 6 – The importance of weeding out sins (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – Considerations of distributing charity (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – The Jews alone are commanded to bring offerings (9 pages)
Chapter XXV: Tzav (Lev. 6:1–8:36)
- Essay 1 – Why the priesthood remains with Aaron's offspring (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – G‑d's forgiveness of Aaron (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – A Torah lesson in etiquette (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – The sacrifice that David desired to bring (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – Four groups who are required to give thanks (17 pages)
- Essay 6 – Learning about the offerings in lieu of bringing them (5 pages)
Chapter XXVI: Shemini (Lev. 9:1–11:47)
- Essay 1 – Aaron and the Golden Calf (5 pages)
- Essay 2 – The Golden Calf and the teaching of repentance (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – The deaths of Nadab and Avihu (4 pages)
- Essays 4–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Relationships between distinctions (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – Havdalah and the two portions of wine (6 pages)
- Essay 8 – Disgusting creatures, circumcision, and the Sabbath (7 pages)
- Essay 9 – David's relinquishment of honor (3 pages)
Chapter XXVII: Tazria (Lev. 12:1–13:59)
- Essay 1 – Living for two worlds (7 pages)
- Essay 2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Producing something clean from something unclean (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – Eat, drink, and be happy (3 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – A metzora is like one who is dead (2 pages)
- Essay 7 (not yet translated)
- Essay 8 – Minimizing the priest's inconvenience (2 pages)
- Essay 9 – Does white represent pure or impure? (4 pages)
- Essay 10 – A Torah scholar must fear G‑d (3 pages)
- Essay 11 – The oath not to take a reward (2 pages)
Chapter XXVIII: Metzora (Lev. 14:1–15:33)
- Essay 1 – Tzara'at as punishment for derogatory speech also leads to atonement (3 pages)
- Essay 2 – Tzara'at motivates one to repent (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – Arrogance leads to tzara'at (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – A generous man should lead the Grace after Meals (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – A righteous person should have a righteous neighbor (2 pages)
- Essay 6 – Collecting a sinner's debt (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – The severity of defamatory speech (4 pages)
Chapter XXIX: Acharei Mot (Lev. 16:1–18:30)
- Essay 1 – The deaths of the righteous atone (8 pages)
- Essay 2 – Atonement on Yom Kippur (10 pages)
- Essay 3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – The righteous one who turns away, and the wicked one who returns (6 pages)
- Essay 5 – Seeing, desire, and spiritual harm (7 pages)
- Essay 6 – Distancing ourselves from sin in private as well as in public (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – Reviewing one's deeds nightly (2 pages)
Chapter XXX: Kedoshim (Lev. 19:1–20:27)
- Essay 1 – The three-fold soul (6 pages)
- Essay 2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – Reporting a gossip to the secular authorities (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – The importance of heeding rebuke (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – Love, prayer, and communal merit (4 pages)
- Essay 6 – Death between age 50 and 60 (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – Israel should strive to retain holiness and connection to G‑d (2 pages)
Chapter XXXI: Emor (Lev. 21:1–24:23)
- Essay 1 – The death of Saul (3 pages)
- Essay 2 (not yet translated)
- Essay 3 – The Golden Calf was meant to be a bull (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – At the covered Moon: Why judgment favors renewal (5 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – The judgment of all creatures on Rosh Hashana (2 pages)
- Essay 7 – The shofar, Jacob, and the secret of the seventh month (9 pages)
- Essay 8 – The angels wait for Israel to be the first to praise G‑d (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – Rosh Hashanah and the power of the individual (3 pages)
- Essay 10 – The four species of Sukkot (6 pages)
- Essay 11 – The esoteric secret of the Sukkah (3 pages)
- Essay 12 – The commandment to dwell in the Sukkah (2 pages)
- Essay 13 – Sukkot and the water libation (3 pages)
- Essay 14 – The commandment of the Menorah (3 pages)
- Essay 15 – The power of the shofar (3 pages)
- Essay 16 – The miracle of the ram (4 pages)
- Essay 17 – Why we don't recite Hallel on the Yomim Noraim (2 pages)
- Essay 18 (not yet translated)
- Essay 19 – Saul's embarrassment and forgiveness (3 pages)
Chapter XXXII: Behar (Lev. 25:1–26:2)
Sefer Bamidbar (Numbers)
Chapter XXXIV: Bamidbar (Num. 1:1–4:20)
- Essay 1 – Banners in the wilderness (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The names "Sinai" and "Horeb" refer to the punishment of the nations (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – The nations claimed that Israel was unworthy of the Torah (9 pages)
- Essay 4 – The love of Israel and the love of Torah (13 pages)
- Essay 5 – G‑d's love of the firstborn (8 pages)
Chapter XXXV: Naso (Num. 4:21–7:89)
- Essay 1 – Different responsibilities and outlooks of the Levites (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The importance of tithing (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – The punishment for withholding tithes (2 pages)
- Essays 4–7 (not yet translated)
- Essay 8 – In what way was David "alone and impoverished"? (2 pages)
- Essay 9 – Secrets of the priestly blessing (3 pages)
- Essay 10 – The peace of the righteous (6 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – The righteous are greater at their deaths (3 pages)
Chapter XXXVI: Beha'alot'cha (Num. 8:1–12:16)
- Essay 1 – Teachings from the Scriptural language of kindling the menorah (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – Judging and issuing rulings (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – The prohibition against non-sacrificial meat (6 pages)
- Essay 4 – Seventy-two candidates for the seventy Elders (8 pages) NEW
- Essay 5 – All were saved on account of Moses (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – One who is humble will merit resurrection (8 pages)
- Essay 7 – Moses' prayer for Miriam (5 pages)
Chapter XXXVII: Shelach (Num. 13:1–15:41)
- Essay 1 – Hoshea becomes Joshua (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The incorrect conclusion of the spies (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – The sin of the spies and the destruction of the First Temple (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – What would the Egyptians say? (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – Hastening the Final Redemption (5 pages)
- Essay 6 – One reason that Moses had to die in the wilderness (4 pages)
- Essay 7 – Pinchas and Caleb in Jericho (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – The order of the Shema in the Torah and in prayer (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – Ritual fringes, prohibited interest, and improper weights (4 pages)
Chapter XXXVIII: Korach (Num. 16:1–18:32)
- Essay 1 – Korach challenges Moses regarding tzitzit and mezuzah (4 pages)
- Essay 2 – The kingship and the priesthood (5 pages)
- Essay 3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Why did Moses tell Korach to wait until morning? (5 pages)
- Essay 5 – Moses' treatment of Korach's people (4 pages)
- Essay 6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Korach's punishment (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Do not maintain a dispute (4 pages)
- Essay 9 – Permissible derogatory speech (3 pages)
- Essays 10–11 (not yet translated)
Chapter XXXIX: Chukat (Num. 19:1–22:1)
- Essays 1–3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Impurity where there is no impurity (4 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – The well gave water in the merit of Miriam (2 pages)
- Essay 7 (not yet translated)
- Essay 8 – G‑d expressed concern for the property of Israel (3 pages)
- Essay 9 (not yet translated)
- Essay 10 – Death by inadvertent sin (5 pages)
- Essay 11 – The death of the righteous (5 pages)
- Essay 12 – Man can conquer the evil inclination (3 pages)
- Essay 13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – Jephthah's reputation (3 pages)
- Essay 15 – Jephthah's argument with the king of the Ammonites (4 pages)
- Essay 16 – Jephthah's vow (3 pages)
Chapter XL: Balak (Num. 22:2–25:9)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – The angel of mercy visits Balaam (2 pages)
- Essay 3 – The death of a loyal donkey Balaam (3 pages)
- Essay 4 (not yet translated)
- Essay 5 – With the holiness of synagogues, one finds life (2 pages)
- Essay 6 – Circumcision sets Israel as a nation apart (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – Balaam testifies as to Israel's uniqueness (4 pages)
- Essays 8–9 (not yet translated)
- Essay 10 – The idolatry of Ba'al Pe'or (3 pages)
- Essays 11–13 (not yet translated)
Chapter XLI: Pinchas (Num. 25:10–30:1)
- Essay 1 – The covenant of peace (9 pages)
- Essay 2 – Pinchas and the priesthood (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – The shame of Zur (2 pages)
- Essay 4 – Atonement at Rosh Hashana is like receiving a new soul (5 pages)
- Essay 5 – The decreasing number of sacrifices over Sukkot (6 pages)
- Essay 6 – Rejoicing and Exulting in G‑d is not limited to prayer and learning (4 pages)
Chapter XLII: Matot (Num. 30:2–32:4)
Chapter XLIII: Masei (Num. 33:1–36:13)
Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy)
Chapter XLIV: Devarim (Deut. 1:1–3:22)
- Essay 1 – Why an initial hint is later made explicit (6 pages)
- Essay 2 – The esoteric secret of prostration (5 pages)
- Essay 3 – Moses excuses himself from acting as judge (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – Did Moses agree with the idea of sending spies? (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – The "voice" of the words (5 pages)
- Essay 6 – Why Isaiah reversed Moses' language (4 pages)
Chapter XLV: Va'etchanan (Deut. 3:23–7:11)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – Prayer is greater than good deeds (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – Why Moses pleaded to enter the Land of Israel (3 pages)
- Essay 4 (not yet translated)
- Essay 5 – Why three cities of refuge on the east side of the Jordan? (2 pages)
- Essays 6–8 (not yet translated)
- Essay 9 – The word "good" in the Ten Commandments (4 pages)
- Essay 10 – A candle is [as] a mitzvah (3 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
- Essay 12 – We will have charity from the L‑rd (3 pages)
- Essay 13 – Preparing for the Sabbath, and for the World to Come (2 pages)
- Essay 14 (not yet translated)
- Essay 15 – Is repentance required for redemption? (4 pages)
- Essay 16 – Coveting and craving (2 pages)
Chapter XLVI: Ekev (Deut. 7:12–11:25)
- Essay 1 (not yet translated)
- Essay 2 – Do not fear the nations (5 pages)
- Essay 3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – Why Moses again mentioned the Golden Calf (4 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Prerequisites to swearing in G‑d's Name (5 pages)
- Essay 7 – Blessings before and after eating (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Don't talk while eating (4 pages)
- Essay 9 – G‑d has compassion for us (3 pages)
- Essay 10 – Sinai, the Golden Calf, and the Throne of Glory (2 pages)
Chapter XLVII: Re'eh (Deut. 11:26–16:17)
- Essay 1 – The blessing and the curse (6 pages)
- Essay 2 – Don't follow the way of the idol worshipers (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – Testing G‑d by tithing (14 pages)
- Essay 4 – Tithing shows that G‑d is King (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – Tithing supports Torah learning (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – Tithing, robbery, and famine (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – The reward and blessings of giving charitably (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Why is matzah called the bread of affliction? (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – Rejoicing with family and with the L‑rd (2 pages)
- Essay 10 – A gift suited to his means (2 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
Chapter XLVIII: Shoftim (Deut. 16:18–21:9)
- Essay 1 – Judging powerful and unethical people (3 pages)
- Essay 2 – Kings of the house of David should judge the people (6 pages)
- Essay 3 – Saul surrendered his honor (4 pages)
- Essay 4 – Avoid soothsayers and diviners (6 pages)
- Essay 5 – Punishment of scheming witnesses (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – The horse of Pharaoh (5 pages)
- Essay 7 – The wicked are not immediately punished (5 pages)
- Essay 8 (not yet translated)
Chapter XLIX: Ki Teitzei (Deut. 21:10–25:19)
- Essay 1 – Discretionary and obligatory wars (3 pages)
- Essay 2 – The beautiful captive (4 pages)
- Essay 3 – A child's bad upbringing (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – Sending away the mother bird from her nest (6 pages)
- Essay 5 – The two commandments that mention prolonging one's days (4 pages)
- Essay 6 – Biblical and rabbinic limitations on the mamzer (5 pages)
- Essay 7 – Ammon and Moab (4 pages)
Chapter L: Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1–29:8)
- Essay 1 – The first of every fruit (3 pages)
- Essay 2 – Expressing gratitude to the priest of one's generation (2 pages)
- Essay 3 – The prerequisite to receiving the Land (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – Adultery leads to idolatry (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – Avoided sins (3 pages)
- Essay 6 – Children and sustenance (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – A blessing on merchandise (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – The blessing of easy money (2 pages)
- Essay 9 – A curse against one's ox, donkey, and goat (3 pages)
- Essay 10 – Why is the Congregation of Israel called "Rachel"? (3 pages)
- Essay 11 – Each day will be more cursed than the previous (3 pages)
- Essay 12 – A reward is available for some mitzvot in this world (4 pages)
Chapter LI: Nitzavim (Deut. 29:9–30:20)
Chapter LIII: Haazinu (Deut. 32:1–32:52)
- Essay 1 – Heaven and earth as witnesses (10 pages)
- Essay 2 – Reward and punishment (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – G‑d's doubled jealousy regarding idolatry (3 pages)
- Essay 4 – Repentance from fear and from love (2 pages)
- Essay 5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – The importance of a fixed place for prayer (10 pages)
- Essay 7 – The war of Gog and Magog (4 pages)
Chapter LIV: Vezot haBracha (Deut. 33:1–34:12)
- Essay 1 – A blessing upon 12 tribes (1 page)
- Essay 2 – Hearing the commandments from Moses (3 pages)
- Essays 3–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – Praise for the tribe of Levi (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – An additional advantage of the east bank of the Jordan (2 pages)
- Essay 8 – The burial of Moses (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – "His eyes were undimmed and his vigor unabated" (2 pages)
- Essay 10 – Connecting the last verse to the first verse (4 pages)
- Essay 11 (not yet translated)
Five Megillot
Chapter LV: Shir haShirim (Song of Songs)
- Essays 1–6 (not yet translated)
- Essay 7 – Why are Jewish children compared to an apple tree in the forest? (2 pages)
- Essays 8–12 (not yet translated)
- Essay 13 – Entirely beautiful: No blemish at all (2 pages)
- Essay 14 – Permissible work on the intermediate days of a Festival (1 page)
- Essays 15–19 (not yet translated)
Chapter LVI: Ruth
- Essay 1 – Naomi's blessing and kiss (3 pages) NEW
- Essay 2 – Why Boaz gave Ruth no gift (5 pages) NEW
- Essay 3 – May your reward be complete (5 pages) NEW
- Essays 4–5 (not yet translated)
- Essay 6 – A blessing upon Ruth's stomach (3 pages)
- Essay 7 – What we can learn from Boaz's kindness toward Ruth (3 pages)
- Essay 8 – Boaz hints at his intentions (2 pages)
- Essay 9 – Observing laws against seclusion (2 pages)
- Essay 10 – Commonalities between Ruth and Tamar (3 pages)
- Essay 11 – Ruth's second act of kindness (2 pages)
- Essay 12 – Six measures of barley and the six deficiencies of Adam (5 pages) NEW
- Essay 13 – The best type of charity (3 pages)
- Essays 14–15 (not yet translated)
Chapter LVII: Kinnot (Eicha) (Lamentations)
- In memory of my mother, Cynthia Stein, Tzivia Mindel bat Bezalel Mordechai A"H, who was niftara 7 Nisan 5780 (April 1, 2020)
- Essay 1 – Exile and the destruction of the Temple (11 pages)
- Essay 2 – The role of Gabriel and Michael in the destruction of the Temple (9 pages)
- Essay 3 – The great danger of emulating the nations, and of drinking to excess (5 pages)
- Essay 4 – Why is menstrual impurity used as a metaphor? (4 pages)
- Essay 5 – The consequences of spiritual impurity caused by baseless hatred (7 pages)
- Essay 6 – Distancing ourselves from sin, and repentance on Yom Kippur (6 pages)
- Essay 7 – Avoiding distraction from Torah study (4 pages)
- Essay 8 – A) Why Asaph recited a song, instead of a lament; B) The promise of a return to purity in the days of the Messiah (6 pages)
- Essay 9 – Why Nebuchadnezzar was called "a lion" (10 pages)
- Essay 10 – Without peace, there is nothing (2 pages)
- Essay 11 – We ask G‑d to remember us and to regret our exile (6 pages)
- Essay 12 – The punishment for denial of justice for the orphan and widow (2 pages)
- Essay 13 – The path to repentance is distancing oneself from the path of sinners (9 pages)
Chapter LVIII: Esther
- Essay 1 – Salvation from the evil inclination (5 pages)
- Essay 2 – The will of a righteous man (3 pages)
- Essay 3 – The "justification" of Haman (4 pages)
- Essays 4–7 (not yet translated)
- Essay 8 – Mordecai warns Esther not to remain silent (3 pages)
- Essay 9 – The source of Esther's merit to approach the king (3 pages)
- Essays 10–12 (not yet translated)
- Essay 13 – Why did Haman think he could destroy the Jews? (8 pages)
- Essays 14–15 (not yet translated)
- Essay 16 – Resisting the nations of the world (2 pages)
- Essays 17–19 (not yet translated)
- Essay 20 – Singular acceptance and plural fulfillment (4 pages)
- Essays 21–23 (not yet translated)
Chapter LIX: Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)
- Essay 1 – Acceptance of the Book of Kohelet (3 pages)
- Essays 2–3 (not yet translated)
- Essay 4 – The reward of giving charity (3 pages)
- Essay 5 – Everything at its time (3 pages)
- Essays 6–13 (not yet translated)
- Essay 14 – Every penny of charity counts (3 pages)
- Essays 15–16 (not yet translated)
- Essay 17 – Well-treated slaves (1 page)
- Essay 18 – Dangerous activities (3 pages)
- Essays 19–22 (not yet translated)