Reuven Chaim Klein

Noach: Hark! Two Arks! ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

We are all familiar with two very different arks that are mentioned in the Bible: The Ark of Noah and the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of...

Lech Lecha: Names of a People ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

Reuven Chaim Klein My wife and I were once traveling in the subway in Los Angeles, and a friendly African-American stopped us to ask,...

Lech Lecha: Energizing the Tired and Exhausted ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

In one of Isaiah’s prophecies (that happens to be read as the Haftarah for Parshat Lech Lecha), he describes G-d as, “The Giver of...

Vayeira: The Man With Enough Light ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

The Hebrew word for a blind person is iver. Cognates of that word appear in such Biblical quotations as “Do not put a stumbling block in...

Chayei Sarah: Take a Bow ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

The two seemingly unrelated stories in this week’s Parshah find common ground in bowing. When telling of Abraham buying the plot that...

Chayei Sarah: Maybe Yes, Maybe No ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

The word “maybe” in English is neutral; it belies not the speaker’s preference regarding the possibility of which he speaks. The same is...

Toldot: Names of a People ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

My wife and I were once travelling in the subway in Los Angeles, and a friendly African-American stopped us to ask, “Hey! Are you guys...

Vayeitzei: Like a Rock ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

I’m not a geologist, nor do I pretend to be one. But I do think that we can draw some fascinating insights into the Holy Language by...

Vayishlach: The Gift of Giving ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Gift of Giving Ahead of the epic meeting of brothers, Jacob sent his older brother Esau quite a generous tribute, consisting of 550...

Vayishlach: Angels and Agents ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

A “messenger of G-d” refers to either an angel or a prophet, but what about a “messenger of Jacob”? When Jacob sent a message of peace to...

Vayeishev/Chanuka: Olives and Oil ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Olives and Oil During these days of Chanuka, everybody is talking about the miracle of the Menorah and the jug of shemen zayit zach (pure...

Vayeishev: Words for Nations ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

When a very pregnant Rivka consulted with the prophets Shem and Ever to find out what is in store for her unborn child, she was informed...

Mikeitz/Chanukah: Playing with Fire ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Playing with Fire When telling of the future downfall of the descendants of Esau, the prophet Ovadiah (Obadiah 1:18) refers to the House...

Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Speaking in Tongues In the Hebrew language, there are two different words for “language”—safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally these...

Vayigash: Speaking in Tongues ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

In the Hebrew language there are two different words for “language” — safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally, these two words actually...

Vayechi: Say Your Prayers ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Upon his deathbed, Yaakov bequeaths to his favorite son Joseph the city of Shechem “which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my...