Parashat Va’eira (And I Appeared) Shemot (Exodus) 6:2–9:35 Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25–29:21 I spent a lot of time this week in prayer seeking God’s wisdom before writing this blog entry. Our weekly Scripture portions — the … Read More
Those Who Came Before
Parashat Shemot (Names) Shemot (Exodus) 1:1–6:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6–28:13, 29:22–23 Again, and again, I am amazed at the richness of God’s Word and its continuity. The deeper we dig, the more treasures we find in … Read More
Standing on the Promises of God
Parashat Vayechi (And He Lived) Beresheet (Genesis) 47:28–50:26 Haftarah: I Kings 2:1–12 In our Scripture portion this week, we find a dramatic account of Israel (Jacob) nearing his death and requesting his son Joseph to … Read More
Our Great Hope
Parashat Vayigash (And He Approached) Beresheet (Genesis) 44:18–47:27 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15–28 I found great hope and comfort in this week’s portions from the Parasha and the Haftarah. It was a strong, timely reminder that God … Read More
Dreams for His Glory
Parashat Mikeitz (From the End) Beresheet (Genesis) 41:1–44:17 Haftarah 1 Kings 3:15–4:1 In the past, one of the ways through which God often spoke was through dreams. In his youth, Joseph received two dreams that … Read More
Righteousness
Parashat Vayeishev (And He Dwelt) Beresheet (Genesis) 37:1–40:23 Haftarah: Amos 2:6–3:8 In both our parasha and haftarah portions this week, we read of the importance of treating one another in righteousness. The key question is … Read More
Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas
By: Bill Katz I must confess that I was not quite aware of Hanukkah until I came to the United States in 1985. Growing up in Argentina, the holidays I was mostly familiar with were … Read More
Generational Hatred
Parashat Vayishlach (And He Sent) Beresheet (Genesis 32:3 (4 in the Hebrew Bible) – 36:43) Haftarah: Obadiah 1:1–21 As I was preparing to write this week’s blog entry, I was puzzled by the extreme differences … Read More
Earthly Consequences; Heavenly Mercy
Parashat Vayeizei (And He Went Forth) Beresheet (Genesis) 28:10–32:3 Haftarah: Hosea 11:7–14:10 In this week’s parasha, we read of the famous story of Jacob & Laban, and Laban’s deception of Jacob in his search for … Read More
Why Jacob and Not Esau?
Parashat Toldot (Offspring) Beresheet (Genesis) 25:19–28:9 Haftarah: Malachi 1:1–2:7 In my most recent blog entry I wrote about the fact that both Abraham and David were wholly committed to God’s lineage through which His Seed … Read More