Articles in Bereishit
Vayera: A Nation of Twinkling Stars
Flickering Flames
The first snow of the winter is always a delight, but not when it arrives in October.
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Noach: Seeds of Light
Oy – A Tzoro
Have you ever been “oif tzoros?” It’s a prominent Yiddish aphorism that means “in trouble.” If your mother gave you shopping money and you lost it in a bad bet then you are “oif tzoros.” If your wife caught you drinking with friends while you claimed to …
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 …
