January 18, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This Shabbat, we begin reading the second of the five books of Moses: that of Shemot (Exodus). This book concentrates on the Jews’ enslavement in and freeing from Egypt and the beginnings of their wanderings in the wilderness, including the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. In this parasha, Bnei Yisrael become slaves to […]

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January 10, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

The book of Bereshit (Genesis) ends with the deathbed blessings of Yaakov to his sons. At least, they are traditionally referred to as blessings. However, a close look at them reveals otherwise (49:3-7): “Reuven, you are my firstborn… unstable as water, you will not excel because you went up to your father’s bed… Shimon and Levi… cursed […]

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January 4, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, prompting the entire family to move to Egypt, where Yosef reunites with his father, Yaakov. The list of the people who went down to Egypt as part of Yaakov’s family mentions only the men by name, with two exceptions: Deena, Yaakov’s daughter by Leah, and Serach, […]

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December 28, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and is appointed to implement Egypt’s anti-famine plan. This brings him into contact with his brothers again, as they come to Egypt to buy food. Yosef’s epithet is “HaTzaddik – the Righteous One.” This is an interesting appellation for a person who lorded his dreams over his brothers, […]

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December 20, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef’s dreams anger his brothers, and they sell him into slavery in Egypt, where he eventually ends up in prison, still interpreting others’ dreams. One could subtitle the last few parshiyot, and the next few, “Jews Behaving Badly.” In each parasha, we see our forefathers and foremothers behaving in ways that are, […]

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December 14, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov confronts Esav, wrestles with a “man” who blesses him by changing his name to Yisrael, loses his wife Rachel in childbirth, and experiences the trauma of the incident with his daughter Deena. Towards the end of Birkat Hamazon, Grace After Meals, we say, “As our ancestors Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov [and […]

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December 6, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov flees to his uncle Lavan’s household and lives there for several years, marrying Lavan’s daughters, Leah and Rachel, and establishing a large family. Yaakov gets very angry twice in this parasha. The first instance occurs in chapter 30, verse 2 (“Yaakov became very angry with Rachel…”). The second instance is in chapter […]

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November 29, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Rivka gives birth to twins, Esav and Yaakov, who struggle with each other, engaging in bargaining and deception to obtain the birthright and Yitzchak’s blessing. Some modern psychologists think that they have homed in on the relatively new phenomenon of sibling rivalry, introduced as a concept by David Levy in 1941. But […]

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November 22, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, following the death of Sarah, Avraham purchases a burial plot and sends his servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Yitzchak. He finds Rivka and brings her to Yitzchak to become his wife. At the beginning of chapter 24, we read that “Avraham was old, advanced in years, and Hashem had blessed Avraham bakol […]

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November 16, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha continues with Avraham’s journey through life. It begins with the news that Avraham and Sarah will together have a child; takes us through Avraham’s unsuccessful discussion with God, trying to get Hashem to spare the people of S’dom and Amorrah; follows Avraham and Sarah on their sojourn in Gerar; witnesses the birth […]

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