Parshat Shemot: Choosing awe over fear
By Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen
The fiercest defense against tyranny may be the refusal to go along with its worldview.
When a new Pharaoh arises who does...
Parshat Vayechi: Joseph’s lesson of forgiveness
By Rabbi Craig Axler
The end of Parshat Vayechi portrays Joseph’s death scene: “Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years and...
Parshat Vayigash: Looking at Egypt’s famine through the lens of COVID-19
By Sonya Starr
This week’s Torah portion, a continuation of last week’s, is the story of Joseph’s brothers’ willingness to do anything, including emigrate, to...
Parshat Vayeshev/Chanukah | Looking past conflict to find holiness
By Rabbi John Franken
The acclaimed new book, “War: How Conflict Shaped Us,” makes a fascinating argument. War, it says, is baked into humans like...
Chanukah | Kindling the Chanukah lights
By Rabbi Nochum Katsenelenbogen
Chanukah, the festival of Lights, recalls the victory — more than 2100 years ago — of a militarily weak but spiritually...
Parshat Vayetzei | Conquering fear, following dreams
By Rabbi Andy Gordon
Jacob is on the run! His brother Esau is furious because Jacob stole his blessing. Jacob grabs his staff and flees...
Parshat Toldot: Isaac’s do-over adds justice to Abraham’s love
By Rabbi Alana Suskin
A number of people are credited with the saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over...
Parshat Chayei Sarah: A wise old age
Rabbi Ilan Glazer
Immediately following Sarah’s burial, the text tells us: “v’Avraham zaken, ba bayamim,” “Avraham was old, advanced in years.” Jewish tradition understands zaken...
Parshat Vayera: Welcoming guests
By Rabbi Etan Mintz
The parshah this week opens with the famous image of God appearing to Abraham as he sits at the entrance of...
Parshat Lech-Lecha: Honor thy father and mother
By Rabbi Tsvi Schur
In this week’s parshah, Abraham is told to leave everything behind and travel where G-d directs him. The midrash tells us...
