Welcome to parashah Mikketz, which is always read on the Shabbat of Hanukkah, and continues the story of Joseph. When we last left our hero, Joseph, he was languishing in prison, having been put there for allegedly sleeping with his boss’ wife. After successfully...
The other night I dreamt that I started smoking again and I was furious with myself; quitting smoking isn’t easy, and I was upset that I’d have to start that process all over again. These kinds of dreams are called “drug dreams,” and they’re common in people...
This week’s Torah reading–Toledot–contains the famous story of Isaac “unknowingly” bestowing his blessing for Esau on Jacob. The text tells us that “Isaac was old, and his eyes were too weak to see,” so it’s easy to assume that this meant he was blind, or at least...
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר קַח־נָ֠א אֶת־בִּנְךָ֨ אֶת־יְחִֽידְךָ֤ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֙בְתָּ֙ אֶת־יִצְחָ֔ק וְלֶךְ־לְךָ֔ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּ֑ה וְהַעֲלֵ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה עַ֚ל אַחַ֣ד הֶֽהָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֹמַ֥ר אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ “And God said please take your son, your only son, whom you love,...
Lech Lecha may-artz’kha, mi molad’tkha, u mi bet avikha el ha-aretz asher arecka, “Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.” God’s first words to Avram (later Abraham) tell him to move forward...
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