Vayeitzei — Is it about the Thanks or the Giving? — By Ben
I don’t host much. I live in a studio apartment, with a tiny table/desk and most of my meals are cooked on a George Foreman grill . Clearly, I haven’t […]
Tag Archives: yaakov
Vayechi – End of Days — By Ben
With parsha Vayechi, we end the book of Bereishis (aka Genesis). It feels just like yesterday we were at Rosh Hashanah closing in on the end of the Torah. As […]
Worrisome Reunions — By Ben
It always amuses me when parsha Vayishlach falls around (or in this case, on) the week of Thanksgiving. With Yaakov returning home to see his brother… the brother he stole […]
The Torah’s Mr. White — By Ben
Whether it is Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Harvey Keitel’s character in Reservoir Dogs, or the Casino Royale Bond villain, there’s something about naming a bad guy Mr. White. You might think […]
Facing Unpleasant Truths — By Ben
When I lived in Manhattan I had this job at a restaurant near the Natural History Museum. The management was abusive, the tips were abysmal, the brunch shift was a […]
Vayakhel – The Jewish Meyers Briggs Test – By Ben
As we make our way through the Mishkan parshas, the Torah may not seem as engaging as earlier chapters. But if you look closely, say at the… terumah offering or […]
Wrestling With God – Vayishlach — By Ben
It’s the night after Thanksgiving and I’m eating an extraordinary Shabbos meal in Dallas, Texas. I am being hosted by a family with a fantastic house, a loving and beyond […]
Vayeitzei – 12 Rocks and 70 Faces — By Ben
“There are 70 faces to the Torah” -Midrash As the Midrash is pointing out, there’s no one way to read the Torah. There’s gematria, Aggadata, the four levels of understanding, Rashi’s […]
Toldos – Not the Way it was Suppoed to Be –By Ben
In this week’s parsha, we have the infamous deception of Yitzchak by Yaakov for the coveted brucha. It’s a particularly troubling passage as it paints (without proper interpretation) our forefather in […]
Pekudei – The Relationship Perspective – By Ben
Pekudei ends the 2nd book of the Torah, Shemos (Exodus). This parsha is reminiscent of previous parshas, dealing mostly with the building of the Mishkan. And though there is plenty to […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 