An indispensable resource for those teaching or studying Chumash!

How are we to understand that, according to Rashi, Adam and Chava were clothed before the sin?

What is the significance of Aramaic?

Why is our holy land constantly referred to as Eretz Canaan?

How did Yaakov Avinu protect himself just by putting some rocks around his head?

When Eisav appeared Yaakov and his family were all in one camp, so who was in the second camp?



Machat shel Yad is a compendium of compelling resolutions to these and other perplexing questions.

Machat Shel Yad by Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Frankel is the long-awaited Torah tapestry whose strands weave classical topics in Sefer Bereishis with the questions and challenges facing faithful Jewry today. In this choice selection from his popular talks given over many years, Rabbi Frankel combines mastery of p'shat, drush, philosophy and hashkafa to bring the burning issues in Sefer Bereishis to the fore in a highly readable and enjoyable manner. Through Rabbi Frankel's unique analytical style, the reader will surely find intriguing words of Torah, original ideas, and solidly based chiddushim. In the words of one reviewer, "It is everything you thought you knew about Chumash, …but didn’t!"



"No, we cannot save even one city," says Hashem.

The prayer of the tzaddik, Avraham Avinu, cannot save a single city. Yet here, Lot, who is absolutely nothing compared to Avraham Avinu, makes a simple request for Tzo’ar and seems to be worthy enough to save the whole city - even though he doesn’t even stay there in the end! How did that happen? (Parshas Vayera, page 93)


These and other fascinating questions are answered in the Machat shel Yad, a compelling collection of insights on topics and stories that we think we know... but perhaps don’t.

Machat Shel Yad by Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Frankel is the long-awaited Torah tapestry whose strands weave classical topics in Sefer Bereishis with the questions and challenges facing faithful Jewry today. In this choice selection from his popular talks given over many years, Rabbi Frankel combines mastery of p’shat, drush, philosophy and hashkafa to bring the burning issues in Sefer Bereishis to the fore in a highly readable and enjoyable manner.



About the Author:
Rabbi Yitzchok Dovid Frankel, a talmid and musmach of Harav Moshe Feinstein ztz"l, is rabbi of Agudath Israel of the Five Towns in Cedarhurst, NY. He is a well known rav and educator in the Far Rackaway/Five Towns area and beyond. He is perhaps best recognized by his illuminating series of shiurim on Gemara, Tanach, Halacha and Hashkafa, all of which you will find in this sefer.


praise for Machat Shel Yad: Bereishis:

There is nothing richer and more varied in a Jew’s weekly life than parashas hashavua. No talmid chacham’s involvement in his sugya exempts him from perusing the sedrah, and no child expects to go through the week without hearing an interesting “vort” on the parashah (and perhaps saying it over at the Shabbos table).We all hope for inspiration and illumination from the Torah’s weekly message.

Machat Shel Yad by Rav Yitzchok Dovid Frankel is a glorious tapestry of Torah insights and explanations on Chumash Bereishis. Woven into the fabric of these pieces is a delightful element of worldly erudition with which the author highlights especially beautiful aspects of the classic commentaries, particularly that of Rashi.

This work touches on topics in Chumash Bereishis in a way that is sure to stimulate both scholar and layman, providing sharp chiddushim and a cutting analysis of relevant and sometimes controversial issues. It is extraordinarily well suited for the teacher of Chumash since it clarifies significant topics.

The author ties the beginning of the Torah to its end:

“When the Torah describes Gan Eden, it gives us a rath