Monthly Archives: January 2012

Bo: inside or outside

Posted on January 25, 2012 by

Remember the scenes in “Yentl” with Yeshiva “bochers” (students) pouring over texts, books piled high, going back and forth for hours over a few words of text?  I always wondered how they could possibly spend that kind of time, obsessing … Continue reading →

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Va’era: How can I hear what you say if I can’t see what you see?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by

I think one of the saddest pieces of text comes in this week’s parasha, Va’era: “But when Moses told this to the Israelites, they would not listen to Moses, their spirits were crushed by hard labor” (Ex. 6:9) Moses has … Continue reading →

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Shemot – turn and truly see

Posted on January 11, 2012 by

Moses was a young prince of Egypt, having been raised in the Palace since he had been lifted out of the River Nile as a baby.  He went out one night and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave.  He … Continue reading →

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Vayechi: And he lived…and died

Posted on January 4, 2012 by

Vayichi…and he lived (and died) We go now to the part of the Biblical story where Jacob dies.   Naturally, the name of the portion is “Vayechi : and he lived.” Jacob’s death heralds big changes for the future of the … Continue reading →

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