Articles in Bereishit
Bereishit: The Quick Turn Around
The End of a Time
The High Holiday season has drawn to a close. The drama of Rosh Hashanah, the aura of Yom Kippur, the joy of Sukkot and the dancing of Simchat Torah all passed in a frenzy of activity. There were services, rituals, programs and oh so much food. The …
Vayechi: Food for Thought at your Dinner Table
Sunday: Jacob Lived
Many Torah commentaries have concluded based on the verse, “And Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years,” that Jacob’s best years, the years that he truly lived, were the ones he spent in Egypt. How did Jacob, a man devoted to G-d, enjoy living in so depraved a …
Vayigash: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Judah’s Sudden Reversal
When Joseph’s silver goblet was discovered in Benjamin’s sack Judah suggested that the entire family be enslaved to Joseph as a form of collective punishment. Later, when Joseph insisted that only Benjamin be enslaved and the others go free, Judah was enraged. Why was Judah enraged by a …
Miketz: Food for Thought at your Dinner table
Sunday: To be Affected
Pharaoh dreamed of seven robust cows that were consumed by seven gaunt cows. In retelling his dream Pharaoh observed that the gaunt cows exhibited no appearance of having eaten even after consuming the robust cows. This seemed ominous to Pharaoh. It could not portend good news. Indeed, …
Vayeshev: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Seven Thoughts for Seven Days
Sunday: Heaven and Earth
Joseph had two dreams. In he first he was binding sheaves in the field, in the second he was gazing at the stars. The first concerned earthly matters, the second, heavenly matters. This is fitting because the objective of our people is to …
Vayishlach: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: The Other Camp will Survive
Fearing an attack from his brother Esau, Jacob divided his family into two camps. He reasoned that should Esau attack one camp, the other would surely be spared. How could Jacob be certain that Esau would not destroy the first camp and then turn around …
Vayetze: Food for Thought at your Dinner Table
Sunday: Its all in the Mind
There are two levels of prophecy. The higher level is divine revelation. The lower level is divine communication. Our sages taught that G-d does not reveal himself to prophets in the diaspora unless they first merited at least one revelation in the holy land. This …
Toldot: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Abraham and Isaac
“These are the progeny of Isaac son of Abraham, Abraham begot Isaac.” That Abraham is the father of Jacob is mentioned twice in this verse, albeit in slightly different styles. In the first half of the verse Isaac is mentioned first, suggesting that he was the more …
