Parashat Beshalach (When He Sent) Shemot (Exodus) 13:17–17:16 Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31 There is an important yet often missed principle in God’s Word, and that is the difference between personal salvation and collective salvation. Every time … Read More
Who’s Really in Control?
Parashat Bo (Come) Shemot (Exodus) 10:1 -13:16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28 The first two verses of this week’s Parashah caught my attention: Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart … Read More
The Crocodile & God’s Judgment
Parashat Va’eira (And I Appeared) Shemot (Exodus) 6:2–9:35 Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25–29:21 Something in this week’s Parashah caught my attention. I call it “God’s first act of wonder before Pharaoh”: Now the LORD spoke to Moses and … Read More
The God Who Remembers
Parashat Shemot (Names) Shemot (Exodus) 1:1-6:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 (Ashkenazi); Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 (Sephardic) This week, we have two different readings from the Haftarah portion.* The Ashkenazi Jewish people (those in the diaspora who lived … Read More
The Wholeness of the Word
Parashat Vayechi (And He Lived) Beresheet (Genesis) 47:28-50:26 Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12 As I prepared to write this commentary, I thought about the beautiful gift God has given us in His Word. The legacy of … Read More
Seven: Rest, Holiness, & Restoration
Parashat Mikeitz (From the End) Beresheet (Genesis) 41:1-44:17 Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7 Shabbat Hanukkah This week we have a special reading from the Haftarah because Shabbat falls during the Feast of Hanukkah (also known as the … Read More
A Prophetic Truth
Parashat Vayeishev (And He Dwelt) Beresheet (Genesis) 37:1-40:23 Haftarah: Amos 2:6-3:8 I want to open this week’s commentary on what the Haftarah says about the significance of prophecy in God’s economy: For the Lord ADONAI, … Read More
The Ancient Root of a Modern Problem
Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis) 32: 3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible)-36:43 Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1-21 In my most recent commentary I referred to Jacob’s dream and the fact that when he woke up … Read More
Who is He?
Parashat Vayeizei (And He Went Forth) Beresheet (Genesis) 28:10-32:3 Haftarah: Hosea 11:7-14:10 I often randomly look around at people passing me on the street, or driving by, and wonder how many of them are aware … Read More
Firstborn Among Many
Parashat Toldot (Offspring) Beresheet (Genesis) 25:19-28:9 Haftarah Malachi 1:1-2:7 During the past couple of weeks, I have been thinking quite a bit about the mystery of the role of the firstborn. In the book of … Read More