The Ideal Family

Don't feel badly if your family seems dysfunctional. Jacob's family was dysfunctional too, and so were most of the biblical families.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayetze (ויצא | He went out)

Torah: Genesis 28:10-32:2

Haftarah: Hosea 12:12-14:10

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-4:11

May HaShem give you of the dew of the heavens

(Genesis 27:28-29)
Kislev 2, 5777/December 2, 2016

The drama of parashat Toldot focuses around the struggle between Yaakov and his brother Esav, which begins while they are still in mother Rivka's womb, and continues to this very day. This week's Torah reading opens with their birth and the subsequent sale of Esav's birthright to Yaakov, and reaches its dramatic crescendo with Yaakov'ssubterfuge and the blessing he received from father Yitzchak as a result thereof, and Esav's exasperated cries of defeat and revenge for his perceived suffering.

The Friend of God

What did Abraham do to be called the friend of God?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayera (וירא | He appeared)

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

Gospel: Luke 2:1-38

Yea, Yitzchak

(Genesis 22:2)
Marcheshvan 17, 5777/November 18, 2016

Avraham avinu's (our patriarch Avraham) life was full of trials. G-d kept testing the limits of Avraham's faith in Him. Each test seemed to push Avraham one step further, ultimately culminating in the great test of the binding of Yitzchak. Why was G-d testing Avraham? Was He expecting Avraham to fail? Or to take a stand and say "No further, G-d. I refuse to be submitted to yet another test?"

Avraham, on the other hand, often questioned G-d's actions, or expressed some doubt as to the viability of G-d's promises to him. Avraham argued with G-d , albeit with great deference, over the fate of the inhabitants of Sodom. Avraham asked G-d more than once if he will ever have children and proposed his servant Eliezer as his heir to the inheritance G-d promised him, despite G-d's steady insistence that Avraham would indeed have progeny.

All Things Created for Him

Though millions of men and women filled the world, God chose one man. Why did God choose Abraham? The rabbis say that he chose him as the rock on which to build the world.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Lech Lecha (לך לך | Go forth)

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17

Man of the earth

(Genesis 9:20)
Marcheshvan 3, 5777/November 4, 2016

Noach is referred to by Torah as "a righteous man," "pure in his generations," (Genesis 6:9) and later, as "a man of the earth." (ibid 9:20) Righteous and pure are obvious praises of Noach's moral stature. In a generation characterized by Torah as thoroughly depraved and riddled by decadence, (and later described by our sages as the absolute most evil generation in all history), Noach's righteousness and purity shone like a beacon that, alas, not one among his contemporaries was willing to honor or heed.

The Door in the Ark

God commanded Noah to place a door on the side of the ark. In Chasidic teaching, the door in the ark symbolizes repentance.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Noach (נח | Noah)

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Gospel: Luke 1:5-80