By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The splitting of the ‘Sea of Reeds’ is one of the seminal events in Jewish history. This week’s Torah Parsha (BESHALACH) begins with a description of how the Israelites finally left Egypt, and the yoke of the Pharaoh. What had been considered impossible had occurred! The mightiest army in […]
Posts in the A ‘Bissel’ of Torah category:
A weekly dvar Torah from our wonderful Joy Scott.
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: BO (EXODUS 10:1-13:16)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (BO) continues with the story of Exodus. God had already inflicted seven devastating plagues on Egypt, subsequent to the Pharaoh’s perpetual denial to free the enslaved Israelites. In Parsha (BO), it becomes apparent that from the very first time that God approached Moses (behind the […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VA’EIRA (EXODUS 6:2-9:35)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Last week’s Torah Parsha (SHEMOT) ended with Moses and Aaron both discouraged, as the Pharaoh of Egypt denied their request to free the enslaved Israelites. This week’s Parsha (VA’EIRA) describes with precise detail, the first seven of the ten plagues, which would eventually decimate all of Egypt. A major […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: SHEMOT (EXODUS 1:1-6:1)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant The opening chapters of Exodus plunge us into a midst of epic events. Moses passes from Prince of Egypt; to Midianite shepherd; to leader of the Israelites. The narrative begins with a new Pharaoh of Egypt, “who did not know of Joseph” (1). However, the descendants of Jacob had […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYECHI (GENESIS 44:28-50:26)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (VAYIGASH), Joseph became overwhelmed with emotion, when he learned that his father, Jacob was still alive. He revealed his identity to his eleven brothers; and, urged them to bring his father and all of their wives and children to Egypt. The brothers were both […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYIGASH (GENESIS 44:18-47:27)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Last week’s Parsha (MIKIETZ) ended with a somewhat disturbing enigma. Jacob’s ten sons had returned to Egypt to procure additional food, as the famine continued. Based on the demand of the ‘Viceroy of Egypt’ (now, their brother Joseph, whom they did not recognize), they were also to bring with […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: MIKEITZ (GENESIS 41:1-44:7)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Twelve years pass, with Joseph still languishing in an Egyptian jail. Suddenly, he finds himself, not only free; but, also the ‘Viceroy’ of Egypt. The swiftness with which this change occurred was nothing short of a miracle. One night, the Pharaoh of Egypt had two highly disquieting and haunting […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYEISHEV (GENESIS 37:1-40:23)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant For more than two decades, Jacob lived with the guilt and knowledge of his own iniquity, against both his brother, Esau; and, his beloved father, Isaac. In last week’s Torah Parsha (VAYISHLACH), we read how the burden of these emotions quickly evaporated, when Jacob went to Canaan; and, Esau […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYISHLACH (GENESIS 32:4-36:9)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Parsha (VAYEITZEI), we read the convoluted and multifarious twenty years, which Jacob experienced, while living with his Uncle Laban. In Parsha (VAYISHLACH), with immense trepidation, Jacob follows God’s orders to return to his birthplace, in Canaan. He is terrified of the inevitable encounter with his brother, […]
A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYEITZEI (GENESIS 28:10-32:3)
By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant This week’s Parsha (VAYEITZEI) begins with Jacob on the run from his family and home. Although, he leaves with his father, Isaac’s, birthright and blessing, these were obtained under false pretenses. His mother, Rebecca, heard his brother, Esau, mutter that he intended to kill Jacob, for this deception. She […]