Posts Tagged Torah Commentary

Jacob was given a blessing that promised him all the worldly goods and acclaim he could want. He would be rich and important. But this week's portion, Vayeitzei, opens with Jacob using a rock as a pillow, utterly destitute and completely alone.

In rabbinic literature, the twin brothers represent archetypes of two major civilizations: Jacob is Israel and Esau is Edom (Rome). Thus, the narrative becomes a fight between the forces of good and the forces of evil.

In this week's Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, Abraham wishes to find a wife for his son, Isaac, and sends his servant Eliezer to find one among Abraham's kinsmen.

The Akeidah starts out so innocently, but quickly spins out of control. This is no ordinary test, no ordinary form of service. God asks Abraham to sacrifice the son he loves: Isaac. This is not merely a decree of death for Isaac, but a decree that Isaac die at Abraham's own hands.

In Parashat Lech L'cha, Abram has been promised by God that he would father a child, but Sarai remains childless. Seeking to provide him with a much-needed and much-desired heir, Sarai concocts a plan.

Have you ever had to make a difficult moral decision that is life-defining but that doesn't have a clear answer? Usually, two deeply held values are revealed to conflict with each other by their very nature. Noach, in Parashat Noach, found himself faced with such a dilemma.

This week, we return to the start of the Torah, to the creation story. Or rather, we return to the creation stories, plural.

During the final moments of Yom Kippur, as the sun begins to set and everyone in the sanctuary glances hesitantly at their watches for the conclusion of the N'ilah service, I look forward to reading one of my favorite passages from Mishkan HaNefesh, our Yom Kippur machzor.

During Sh'mini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, our readings address both endings and beginnings.