A Kinder, Gentler Nation
This week brings us Yom Y'rushalayim (May 8 / 28 Iyar), one of several Jewish holidays commemorating events of war in the modern State of Israel. This one recalls Israel's "recovery" of the Old City of Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967.
We’ve Got to Stop It
The sign read, "We've got to stop it," and under it a woman sat alone at a table in the grocery store parking lot. The sign also contained the words "domestic violence," so I walked over. She greeted me warmly, "I'm trying to put a face to it. To say it could happen to anyone.
The Person We Marry
Focal Point
And when Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban . . . Jacob went up and rolled the stone off the mouth of the well, and watered the flock. . . . Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and broke into tears. (Genesis 29:10-11)
Difficult Stories Raise Difficult Questions
The rape of Dinah (Genesis 34) is one of the most disturbing stories in the entire Tanach. Before we look closely at that text, it is appropriate to put it in the context of the continuing patriarchal narratives.
Clothes Make the Story . . .
To paraphrase Mark Twain, "clothes make the [story]." Throughout the course of Parashat Vayeishev, references to clothing accentuate and propel the unfolding drama.
Joseph's Clothes Spell Trouble
Recognizing Torah Voices
Among the most exquisite stories in all of Tanach is Genesis 27, Isaac's blessing of Jacob. In this essay I wish to highlight the artistry of this author. I shall also draw attention to the bracketing structure that the redactor has built around the story.
Our (More-or-Less) Four Matriarchs
At the core of this week's parashah is the creation of a people, Israel, as a confederacy of tribes. One might expect a people's legend of origins to derive from events valorous or noble.