“Once Joseph had a dream which he told to his brothers and they hated him even more.” (Genesis 37:5) Parashat Vayeishev introduces the saga of Joseph and his brothers, the … Continued
Light unto the Nations
Tomorrow night the Jewish world will light the first candle of Hanukkah, a holiday celebrating the Jewish rebellion against their Assyrian-Greek oppressors. Hanukkah has come to symbolize our everlasting struggle … Continued
Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43)
“God said to him, “You whose name is Jacob, you shall be called Jacob no more, but Israel shall be your name.” (Genesis 35:10) Parashat Vayishlach is pretty suspenseful: Jacob … Continued
Parashat Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3)
“And Jacob went out from Beer Sheva and went toward Haran.” (Genesis 28:10) Why are Jews called Jews (as opposed to Reubenites, or Levites, or Benjaminites)? Parashat Vayeitzei provides one … Continued
Highest ranking Jewish military chaplain to head JWB Jewish Chaplains Council
For immediate release Rabbi Irving Elson, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and the highest-ranking Jewish chaplain in the U.S. military when he retired in September, has become … Continued
Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:8)
“But the children struggled in her womb , and she said, ”If so, why do I exist?” and she went to inquire of God. ” (Genesis 25:22) Parashat Toldot introduces … Continued
Parashat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18)
“They called Rebecca and said to her, “Will you go with this man?” And she said, “I will go.” (Genesis 24:58) The Torah is typically parsimonious with words, so why … Continued
Parashat Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24)
“Avraham journeyed from there to the land of the Negev, and he lived between Kadesh and Shur.” (Genesis 20:1) If “honesty is the best policy” why does God fudge the … Continued
Parashat Lekh Lekha (Genesis 12:1-17:27)
“And Abram moved his tent and came an dwelled in the plains of Mamrei which are in Hebron; and he built there an altar to Adonai.” (Genesis 13:18) In Parashat … Continued
A View From Jerusalem – November 2016
New Beginnings Today, exactly 76 years ago, on the 10th of the Hebrew month of Heshvan 1940 the Nazi government issued the order to gather all Jews in Warsaw into … Continued