“Pharoah further said to Joseph, “See, I put you in charge of all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:40) Parashat Miketz describes Joseph’s ascent to power and authority. He correctly … Continued
Parshat Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1-40:23)
“Now Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him an ornamented tunic.” (Genesis 37:3) JCC Association staff … Continued
Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43)
“Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.” (Genesis 32:25) Some people read the Torah as the word of God. Nahum Sarna (1923–2005; a … Continued
Parashat Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3)
“Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ”Surely the Lord is present in this place, and I did not know it!” (Genesis 28:16) Parashat Vayeitzei is a real nail-biter. Jacob flees … Continued
Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:8)
“Isaac loved Esau, for game was in his mouth, but Rebecca loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:28) Parashat Toldot repeats a familiar motif in Genesis: brothers in conflict (think Cain and Abel; … Continued
Parashat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18)
“Abraham was now old, advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things.” (Genesis 24:1) Parashat Chayei Sarah presents us with history’s first crisis of Jewish continuity. … Continued
The Meaning of a Jewish Home
On the fourteenth of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan 94 years ago, Lord Arthur James Balfour granted the Zionist movement a unprecedented historical declaration. The Balfour Declaration was a result … Continued
Parashat Vayera (Genesis 18:1-24)
“He said, ‘My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant.’” (Genesis 18:3) The Torah uses two different words, vayomer and vayera, to describe God’s interactions … Continued
Parashat Lekh Lekha (Genesis 12:1-17:27)
“And because he put his trust in the Lord, he reckoned it to his merit.” (Genesis 15:6) If someone told you he had packed up his life and moved halfway … Continued
Parashat Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32)
“That is why it was called Babel, because the Lord confounded the speech of the whole earth; and from there scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” (Gen. … Continued