A Bissel of Torah Parsha

by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (Vayeishev) the intense jealousy of Joseph, and his father’s ostentatious partiality to Joseph reached a crisis of urgency. Feeling unfairly overlooked, and powerless, they took out their frustrations on Joseph. He … Continued

by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Clothes and Garments play a major role in this week’s Torah Parsha (Vayeishev). They appear to be a precursor of change to both the characters and the lives of those, of those who are affected. We … Continued

by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Torah Parsha (Vayeitzei), we read about how Jacob, himself was deceived into marrying Leah, instead of her younger sister, Rachel, with whom he was deeply in love. We learned that between Leah, Rachel, … Continued

by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Love, loss, rivalry, and betrayal: These words read like an advertisement for a blockbuster movie, a new must-read thriller. However, in the context of this week’s Parsha (Vayeitzei), each of these words are critical, both to … Continued

by Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant Parsha TOL’DOT presents an ancestral tale that haunts us with its themes of cunning and deception. As the narrative proceeds, we feel the pain of both the tricked and the trickster. We realize that each … Continued

‘CHAEI SARAH’ poses an interesting dichotomy between ‘LIFE’ and ‘DEATH’. The literal translation of the title of this week’s Parsha is: ‘Sarah’s Life’. However, when we begin reading the Parsha, Sarah has already died; and, Abraham, in deep mourning, is … Continued

When I was growing up, my neighbor had a beautiful poster hanging in her window.  It said “If you want Peace, Work for Justice.”  Every time I went over to her house I would read it to myself and it … Continued

This week’s Torah Parsha begins by G-D speaking to Abram, “Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house to the land which I will show you” There, G-D says, will eventually be a great nation. Abram, … Continued

A considerable amount of time has passed between the introduction of Adam and Eve, and this week’s Parsha. The parsha begins with an instruction to Noah from G-D, “You are the only righteous man in a world consumed by violence … Continued

This Parsha begins as Moses continues his last speech before the Israelites. “When you dwell in the promised land, take a selection of the first fruits and bring them to the place G-D chooses for G-D’s Name. With a Priest … Continued