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Vayigash: What You Didn’t Know About Serach, Daughter of Asher
Aside from the foremothers, one of the most talked-about women in Sefer Bereishit is Serach Bat Asher. Even preschool students know her name and her story. But is there more to her than what first meets the eye? Serach’s most famous story, taking place during the events of this week’s parsha, is not mentioned directly…
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Beit Hillel and Our Ascent in Holiness
There is a well-known debate in the Gemarah between the schools of Shammai and Hillel when it comes to how we should light the Chanukah candles: “Beit Shammai says: On the first day one kindles eight lights and, from there on, gradually decreases. And Beit Hillel says: the first day one kindles one, and from…
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Miketz: Life Is All About Perspective
In the beginning of Parshat Mikeitz, Yosef is pulled from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Not only does he uncover the prophecy of famine for Egypt, but he suggests a solution as well1. Pharaoh is impressed with the interpretation and solution that Yosef presented, and eventually promotes him to viceroy of Egypt. It was seemingly…
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Does Torah Observance Mean a Life Full of Blessings and Revealed Good?
For some, it would be a fair assumption to say that if we are living a Torah life, a life in accordance with halacha and the correct Torah hashkafot, then Hashem should bestow goodness upon us. We are, after all, living how He wants us to live. We are doing our part, and therefore, it…
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Losing Myself in the Crowd: My Arduous Journey Towards Orthodox Judaism
Who am I? Why am I here? These were the questions I kept asking myself throughout my religious journey, and I am still attempting to answer them to this day. For a Baal Teshuva, the journey towards Judaism can be long and hazardous. I would like to share my journey of coming closer to Judaism,…
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Vayeshev: Contrasting the Greatness of Tamar and the Wickedness of Potiphar’s Wife
Parshat Vayeshev contains the story of Yosef’s sale at the hands of his brothers, his journey to Mitzrayim, and his encounters with Eishet Potiphar there. It also contains the story of the relationship between Yehuda and Tamar, one the most easily-misconstrued tales in Sefer Bereishit. Within the context of Yosef’s journey, Tamar’s story seems somewhat…
