Vayigash – Man and Beast
Shepherds were abhorrent to ancient Egyptians, Yosef tells his brothers, as he relates what they should tell Par’oh in order to reserve the area of Goshen for his immigrating family (Beraishis 46:34). We find...
Two Rabbis, Three Opinions Episode 13
The latest episode of Two Rabbis, Three Opinions is up and available on Spotify and elsewhere. What’s with one writer’s comparison of charedim to American Indians? Can they claim that they were the indigenous...
Mikeitz – Low-Key is a Lesson for the Ages
“Why display yourselves when you are satiated, before the children of Esav and Yishmael?” (Rashi, Beraishis 42:1). That is the Gemara’s (Taanis 10b) understanding of Yaakov Avinu’s exhortation to his sons, lama tisra’u (understood,...
Vayeishev — Momentous Moments
The nature of the “work” that Yosef came to Potifar’s house to do on the day when the Egyptian’s wife sought to entice him to sin with her (Beraishis 39:11) is famously the subject...
Vayishlach – Beware the Rabbi
Imagine finding yourself in a desolate place and spying a lone figure in the distance coming toward you. Your apprehension, even nervousness, would be understandable. But then, when he comes closer and you see...
Vayeitzei – The Purity Principle
Yaakov and Leah had their first (perhaps only) argument on the morning after the wedding feast. He had expected Rachel to join him in his abode that night but, unknown to him until morning’s...
Toldos – The Aroma of a Mitzvah
When a pasuk seems superfluous, it’s probably significant. As Rivka is about to advise her son Yaakov to impersonate his twin Esav and receive their father Yitzchak’s bracha, she adds, “So now, my son,...
Chayei Sara – Wake-Up Call
Rabi Akiva, the Midrash (Beraishis Rabbah, 58:3) recounts, once sought to awaken some students who were nodding off by quoting the opening pasuk of the parsha: “And the life of Sarah was one hundred...
THE PLACE FROM AFAR: A Tale of Three Sisters
דּ וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֧ם אֶת־עֵינָ֛יו וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הַמָּק֖וֹם מֵֽרָחֹֽק: And Avraham lifted his eyes, and saw the place from afar. Every year on the 4th of July, Candis made me a birthday party. She must have...