Posts by Pastor Matt McKeown
The River of Life
This week’s Torah portion is Miketz, the continuing dramatic saga of the life of Joseph. This portion begins with the phrase “at the end of two years.” Now Joseph has already been in prison for ten years for a crime he did not commit. Two years before we pick up the story the chief cupbearer…
Read MoreAt What Price?
This week’s Torah portion is Vayeshev. But before I get to that, thank you everyone for your prayers and good thoughts. I tested positive about a week and a half ago and now am feeling better and hopefully will be coming out of quarantine soon. So this portion is about Joseph the sale of Joseph…
Read MorePeace with Strength
This past week we studied Vayishlach, the portion that contains a continuation of the narrative between the twin brothers Jacob and Esau. There has been enmity between them since the birthright incident. Jacob has now been told that his brother’s hatred toward him has softened a bit, perhaps now it is safe to approach Esau.…
Read MoreWhat To Do?
This week we studied the portion vayeitzei in which Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven. In the very first verse of this portion we learn that Jacob has left Bersheva, travelling to Haran, so we know he is on a journey. The rabbis, the ancient sages of Israel, tell us that when a righteous…
Read MoreWhat is Right?
So this last week we studied Toldot, the narrative with the most famous interaction between the brothers Jacob and Esau – in which Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of lentils. If you grew up Christian as I did, it might seem that Jacob is the villain of the story, the deceiver, somehow tricking…
Read MoreWhere’s the Lamb?
This week’s portion is Vayeira, which includes the story of the binding of Isaac. This story is central to Judaism and Christianity. A misrepresentation of this story is also central to Islam. What I mean by a misrepresentation is that Islam believes that it was not Isaac who went up with Abraham but Ishmael. That…
Read MoreWalk or Swim?
This past week we learned about Noah or Noach, one of the most popular biblical stories especially with children. Probably because it tells of the animals going two by two on a great adventure on a boat. But if we dig a bit we see that there is a lot more going on in this…
Read MoreIn The Beginning
Happy 5781 to you all! I had an amazing High Holy Day season, just finishing with Sukkot and Simcha Torah and I trust that you and your family had a wonderful season as well. So, better late than never, this past week we started all over. We have rewound the scroll and found ourselves back…
Read MoreGetting Back Up
Last week’s portion (yes I’m a few days behind!) was Ki Tavo. There is a verse at the top of the portion that says accursed is anyone who does not uphold this Torah. Now this sounds like it could be bad news for you and I who are not perfect. Are we accursed because we…
Read MoreWho Knew About Fish?
This week’s Torah portion, Re’eh has in it the kosher laws. Although we have spoken of it before, I remind you that the kosher laws were not meant for health but because they cause you to eat differently, to make different choices about eating than any other nation on earth. God’s purpose was not necessarily…
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