In this week’s parsha, Parshas Bo, after hundreds of years in Egypt, the Israelites leave their country of bondage, marching to a hopeful future. With the final three plagues outlined in the parsha - arbeh/locusts, choshech/darkness, and makkas bechoros/the plague of the firstborn - Pharaoh orders...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Va’era, Hashem promises that the Israelites will be freed from Egypt. Hashem commands Moshe to speak to the Children of Israel, and say to them: וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִתַּחַת סִבְלֹת מִצְרַיִם - And I will take you out from under the...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shemos, a new chapter in the long history of our people commences. While the book of Bereishis focused on the individual and personal lives of our founding fathers and mothers - their barrenness, struggles, journeys, children, triumphs, and losses -...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayechi, the book of Bereishis comes to a close, as Yaakov and his family have settled in Goshen, Egypt, with Yosef the viceroy as the provider of life. Prior to his death, at the age of one hundred and forty-seven, Yaakov...
In this week's parsha, Parshas Vayigash, after twenty-two long and painful years of separation, Yosef and his family are reunited. From slave boy to viceroy, from hated to revered, from Canaan to Egypt, Yosef’s dreams have finally come true. He is the provider and sustainer...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Mikeitz, the story of Yosef continues. After being sold at the age of seventeen, bought by Potiphar the chief executioner of Pharaoh (see Onkelos to Bereishis 39:1), then languishing in prison for the next twelve years after being framed by...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeishev, seventeen year old Yosef, the beloved son of Yaakov Avinu and Rachel Imainu (who died in last week’s parsha), begins to dream of greatness. He dreams of his brothers sheaves of wheat in the field bowing down to his...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayishlach, Yaakov and his family are on the move, as they return to Eretz Canaan, having left the confines of the house of Lavan. As the parsha opens, Yaakov is afraid and distressed, as he prepares for war and confrontation with...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Vayeitzei, opens as Yaakov Avinu is on the run, fleeing the wrath of his brother, Eisav, who wants to kill him over the contested brachos (blessings) (Bereishis 27). Alone, he leaves Be’er Sheva to journey to Charan, to his uncle Lavan,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Toldos, twin sons - Yaakov and Eisav - are born to Yitzchak and Rivka, after many years of childlessness. Eisav, reddish and hairy, is born first, while Yaakov is born second, holding on to the heel of his brother. As the...