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Vayechi: Knowing the Strengths of Our Children
Yaakov Avinu, the esteemed father of the Shivtei Kah, gives each of his twelve sons final words of blessing and guidance in this week’s parsha. It is powerful to learn through the pesukim and view Yaakov’s vision of the potential of each of his children. Yaakov did not merely bless them as a group, as
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Vayigash: A Tzaddik’s Approach to Expressing Emotions
One of the most poignant scenes in Tanach is described in this week’s parsha. The two sons of the adored Rachel, close brothers separated for 22 years, reunite and cry on each other’s shoulders. On the surface, this is a beautiful expression of long pent-up emotion, the relief to see each other, the pain over
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Miketz: Yosef, Establishing the Standards of Kedusha for the Jewish People
Throughout the pesukim delineating Yosef’s descent into Mitzrayim and his tenure in the debased Egyptian palace, one thing is made perfectly clear. Through all the ups and downs of his journey, Hashem was with Yosef and Yosef was highly cognizant of this Divine Assistance. Such clarity and faith Yosef had, that when his terrified brothers
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Vayeishev: What Do the Stories of Tamar, Yehuda and Chanuka Have in Common?
The story of Yehuda and Tamar is shrouded in mystery. After losing both her first and second husbands – Er and Onan, sons of Yehuda – with no children from either marriage, Tamar takes matters into her own hands. She approaches Yehuda of her own accord, disguised in the dark of night. Through their union,
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Vayishlach: What Makes Rachel the Quintessential Jewish Mother?
“Mama Rachel cry for us again, won’t you shed a tear for your dear children, if you raise your sweet voice now as then, the day will come…” Rachel Imeinu, of all the four Imahot, has become known to us as ‘Mama Rachel,’ the mother of all of Klal Yisrael. Rachel – the woman who
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Vayeitzei: Why Is Rachel’s Silence Praised?
In Parshat Vayetzei, we are about to witness the marriage of Yaakov, the ish tam to his bashert Rachel, the righteous younger daughter of Lavan. We see up close Lavan’s manipulative behavior and trickery, Yaakov and Rachel’s attempt to thwart it and ultimately, Rachel’s eternal sacrifice for her sister as she gives up being the
