Blessing
- 5781, Abraham, Blessing, Covenant, Dissertation Diary, Faithfulness, Genesis, Hagar, Ishmael, Journey, Lekh Lekha, Lot, Names, Nation, Pandemic, Parsha, Promises, Sarah, Travel
Into the Unknown!
Seven months into a changed way of life during a pandemic, the unknown is old news. Rather than embarking as a result of our own volition, or even being asked to do so,…
- Ancestors, Bereshit, Blessing, Brothers, Culture, Egypt, Genealogy, Generations, Israel, Jacob, Joseph, Komps Kaos, Oath, Parsha, Shemot, Text Study, Textual Criticism, Torah, Vayechi
The End of the Beginning
The end of Bereshit – an accomplishment that feels markedly set within each year of Torah engagement. We have traipsed through our creation stories, begun to wrestle with our relationship to G!d (and…
- 5779, Anger, Blessing, Boiling, Esau, Genealogy, Generations, Isaac, Jacob, Jewish Food, Komps Kaos, Parsha, Rebekah, Stew, Toldot, Twins
Boiling Point
There seems to be a lot of food in this parsha. When we talk about the word toldot, mostly people say, “Oh, that’s the generations” – “It’s all about their lineage” – “Those…
- Bereshit, Blessing, Burial, Death, Descendants, Egypt, Ephraim, Forgiveness, Goshen, Homeland, Israel, Jacob, Joseph, Journey, Life, Manasseh, Mourning, Parsha
Genesis – Out!
Once again, just like with the parsha beginning with the death of Sarah, the Hebrew terms for death and life are both at play in the parsha. Parashat Vayechi, “And he lived,” begins…
- Annual Cycle, Blessing, Israel, Israelites, Moses, Nebo, Parsha, Praise, Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Tribe, Vzot haBrakhah
It’s Time to Dance!
It’s almost here – another year has gone by. Sukkot 5777 rushed by in Cincinnati with some rainy days, a definite chilling of the air, studying and learning, spending time with friends. Monday…
- Aramean, Blessing, Circumcision, Community, Covenant, Curse, Days of Awe, Deuteronomy, Egypt, Exodus, Heart, High Holidays, Israel, Israelites, Nitzavim, Pesach, Rosh Hoshannah, Yom T'ruah
L’Chaim in 5777!
“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.” Tonight’s Shabbat is the last of 5776. Sunday night we begin celebrating the a…
- Blessing, Community, Curse, Davening, Deuteronomy, Farewell, Israelites, Land, Minyan, Mitzvah, Parsha, Re'eh, Sacrifice, Shabbat, Worship
Centering and Recentering
Sight. Protection. Care. Life. Legalism. Rules. Rabbis. Pharisees. Kashrut. Chagim. Atonement. Mishnah. Debate. Holiness. Blessings. Curses. Land. People. Nation. Identity. History. Modernity. Destruction. Worship. Sacrifice. Desire. Place. Mitzvot. Obedience. Foreigner. Money. Generosity. Poor.…
- Aramean, Be'er Sheva, Birthright, Blessing, Esau, Isaac, Jacob, Laban, Matriarchs, Parsha, Patriarchs, Rebekah, Toldot, Twins
Twins & Enemies
Although he is the patriarch inhabiting the least biblical space, Isaac’s name arouses admiration, suspicion, and scandal. This week’s parsha, Tol’dot (generations), reminds us of what we’ve just read: that Isaac is Abraham’s…
- Blessing, Covenant, Curse, Days of Awe, Deuteronomy, Egypt, High Holidays, Instructions, Israelites, Land, Moses, Nitzavim, Parsha, Pesach, Promises, Purpose, Reflection, Remember, September 11, Yom Kippur
A Day to Remember * A Day to Reflect
“You stand this day, all of you, before the L!rd your G!d…” The first words of Parashat Nitzavim remind us of the imminent Days of Awe, pointing our minds and hearts toward reflection.…