Peace 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 More

What 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 More

What 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 More

Where’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 More

Walk 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 More

In 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 More