Toldos – What’s Eating Esav?
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it always strikes me that the parshas dealing with Yaakov and Esav almost always coincide. The family dysfunction almost feels too appropriate. But while reading over […]
Category Archives: Genesis/Bereishis
Vayeira – Did G-d Have to Tell Abraham He Was Going to Destroy Sodom?
Before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, G-d asked, “Shall I conceal from Abraham what I am about to do?” The wording suggests He didn’t have a choice.
Vayechi – Sorry, Not Sorry: When “It Worked Out” Isn’t an Apology
In Vayechi, Joseph’s brothers approach him after their father’s death, but their fear and his restrained response show that true reconciliation never fully happened. Why?
The Limits of Fatherhood: How to Support While Letting Go.
Becoming a father again has me reflecting on Vayigash: how we support our children, how we let go, and how faith guides us when we can’t protect them completely. Yosef shows that true parenthood is both care and trust.
Hebrew Knows Something About Dreams and Yosef Proved It
Dreams feel meaningful even when they’re absurd. The Torah takes that seriously. Hebrew encodes a theory of dreams built on paradox—and Yosef used it to unlock Pharaoh’s dream.
Colorful Coats, Hanukkah Pajamas, and a Shirt in a Married Woman’s Hand: What Do Your Clothes Say About You?
Vayeishev keeps coming back to clothing—Yosef’s coat, his garment in Potiphar’s house, Yehuda’s cloak. Each one reveals identity in a surprising way. As Chanukah begins, I reflected on what our own “garments” say about us, and how the holiday pushes us to show who we really are.
Did the Man Who Violated Dina Become Rabbi Akiva?
A surprising kabbalistic tradition links Shechem’s corrupted desire to Rabbi Akiva’s sanctified passion.
Yaakov Became Angry With Rachel: Can Lashing Out Ever Be Justified in Marriage?
In a moment of deep vulnerability, Rachel cried to Yaakov for help. Instead of comfort, she got a flash of anger. Was Yaakov justified or was this a tragic mistake?
Yaakov Wasn’t a Moderate — Leadership Takes More Than the Middle Ground
The American political divide isn’t just about policy—it reflects two deep spiritual forces that have shaped the world since Creation. By exploring how Avraham, Yitzchak, and especially Yaakov balanced these forces, we can rethink what real leadership demands.
For Choices That Break You Open, The Torah Sings a Special Note. But It Is Rare.
Why does Eliezer receive the shalshelet—a trope reserved for moments of profound ambivalence—when praying for a wife for Yitzchak? Through the stories of Lot, Yosef, and Moshe, the shalshelet signals intense inner conflict. Eliezer’s struggle reveals a deeper truth about prayer: not changing God, but confronting what we truly want. In an age of distraction, this ancient trope has a surprising message for us.
