Jacob arrived safe (literally, “whole”) in the city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan — having come thus from Paddan-aram — and he encamped before the city. Continue Reading »
Early in the morning, Laban kissed his sons and daughters and bade them good-by; then Laban left on his journey homeward. Jacob went on his way… Breysheet / Genesis 32:1 The author of Meshech Chokhmah (1) reads these verses from the Torah using the most literal translation of the verbs used to describe the actions Continue Reading »
Rebekah said to her son Jacob, …Now, my son, listen carefully as I instruct you. Go to the flock… B’reysheet/Genesis 27:6, 8-9 In reflecting upon our passage, Rabbi Joseph Ber Soloveitchik(1) explains our matriarch Rebekah’s Continue Reading »
The servant brought out objects of silver and gold, and garments, and gave them to Rebekah; and he gave presents to her brother and her mother… Do not delay me, now that the Lord has made my errand successful. Give me leave that I may go to my master… They called Rebekah and said to Continue Reading »
Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. (B’reysheet / Genesis 21:19) Rabbi Binyamin stated, “All have an aspect of blindness about them until the Holy One enlightens one’s eyes.” (Breysheet Rabbah 53) Building upon this statement The Chiddushei HaRim1 taught, “Everything that a person needs stands ready before them all Continue Reading »
When Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, “I am El Shaddai. Walk in my ways and be “tamim”. I will establish my covenant between me and you…” This is the second covenantal moment described in our Torah portion, and it is deeply transformative. During this covenantal moment, Continue Reading »
As Lucy explodes her brother’s essential understanding regarding the Great Pumpkin she also introduces an important idea about how our language and usage impact on our understanding of the nature of God. Our Torah portion presents us with a variety of images of God using human terms of reference to describe the Infinite and bridge Continue Reading »
How Do We Celebrate Simchat Torah Appropriately in 5785? This is a difficult challenge. One on hand, we are commanded by the Torah to be joyous on Sukkot (Leviticus 23:40; Deuteronomy 16:14-15). Based on these verses, Cha”zal, our sages of blessed memory, taught us that it is a positive commandment to be joyous on holidays. Continue Reading »
Climate Control on Sukkot Lost in the mists of history and buried amidst the rubble of the Temple in Jerusalem are the rituals of Sukkot that made clear that Sukkot is about water. In ancient Israel the pageantry of the festival reflected in the Hoshanot processional, which we continue still, was concluded with the kohanim Continue Reading »
The High Holy Day liturgy reflects the dichotomy of our relationship with God. Prayers such as Avinu Malkenu (Page 92*) capture the duality of Divine transcendence and immanence. As we reach out to God in prayer, we call upon Avinu, our father. In doing so we evoke a relationship with the Holy One that is Continue Reading »
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