Bereshit
Parashat Vayehi
The Future – A Sealed Book? Rabbi Len Levin If you were handed a sealed envelope that you had reason to believe contained an infallible prediction of the future course of your life — or of the world’s political history … Continue reading »
Parashat Vayigash
The Moment of Impact By Cantor Marcia Lane In his book, The Tipping Point, Malcom Gladwell describes the moment when a situation changes, the small thing that had a big impact on a problem or a situation. In this … Continue reading »
Parashat Vayeshev
By Rabbi Andrea Myers Years ago, I took a road trip to Cincinnati to do research at the archives of Hebrew Union College. It was my first time away from home since our daughter Ariella had been born four … Continue reading »
Parashat Vayishlah
By Miriam Herscher “I am Jacob. I am going home, and I am anxious and scared. “I have been away for twenty years. I have not spoken to nor seen my brother or parents in all that time. We … Continue reading »
Parashat Ki Tetzei
By Susan Elkodsi “And Jacob left Beersheva, and he went to Haran. And he arrived at the place and lodged there because the sun had set” (Gen. 28:10-11). The term bashert is often used when speaking about falling in love, or … Continue reading »
Parashat Toldot
Don’t Forget the Lentils By Rabbi Katy Z. Allen What about the lentils? “Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Give me some of that red stuff to … Continue reading »
Parashat Hayyei Sarah
By Cantor Jaclyn Chernett Traditionally, in Kol Nefesh, our little shul in London, this sedra marks the annual celebration for our Hevra Kadisha, when we study and have a meal together. The Hevra Kadisha it is, literally, a Sacred … Continue reading »
Parashat VaYera
By Rabbi Enid Lader “Adonai appeared to him in the terebinths of Mamre, while he was sitting in the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day” (Gen. 18:1). Through Rashi’s commentary on this verse, we learn that … Continue reading »
Parashat Lekh Lekha
By Simcha Raphael I imagine it was a crystal clear desert night in Haran. Standing under a glittering band of stars adorning ancient Mesopotamian skies, Abram son of Terah suddenly heard a beckoning voice: Abram! Go forth from your native … Continue reading »
Parashat Noach
By Rabbi Alan Abraham Kay As I write this D’var Torah, “The falling leaves drift by my window, the autumn leaves of red and gold” and I hum the Frank Sinatra song and thank God for giving us daylight and … Continue reading »