Approaching Another: On Judah’s Lack of Self-Righteousness
Parashat Vayigash begins with Judah approaching the Egyptian viceroy, a man he does not know is actually his brother Joseph, in sheer terror.
The Blessing of Jacob’s Saving Angel
Toward the end of Parashat Vayechi, Jacob offers his grandsons a deathbed blessing that has become incorporated into the daily bedtime Shema liturgy.
Joseph: The (Un)Successful Interpreter
At the beginning of Parashat Mikeitz, Pharaoh dreams about the seven fat, healthy cows who are consumed by seven gaunt, unhealthy ones and the seven healthy ears of grain that are swallowed up by seven thin, scorched ears. This midrash suggests that Joseph's success in Pharaoh's court hinged not just on correctly decoding the dreams but doing so in a way that Pharaoh liked - that accorded with his ego and self-interest.
Reading Dinah’s Story After October 7
In the wake of the brutal Hamas attack against the villages and kibbutzim along the southern border of Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza and Lebanon, there has been a flood of new Hebrew poetry published on various platforms. One such poem is "Dinah" by poet and literature professor Smadar Falk Peretz, which was published in the online journal Gluyah in early 2024. It responds to the horrors of October 7th using Dinah's story from Parashah Vayishlach, and from an unabashedly female point of view.
Rachel’s Daughter, Joseph
Early on in Parashat Vayeishev (Genesis 37:2), Joseph is described in grammatically anomalous fashion as "vehu na'ar et b'nei Bilhah ve'et b'nei Zilpah" - and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah.
Give to the URJ
The Union for Reform Judaism leads the largest and most diverse Jewish movement in North America.