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 […]

Bissel of Fun Logic Puzzles: January 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Logic Puzzle Contest! Send in your answers to get points. The top three puzzlers at the end of year will get gift cards PLUS ultimate bragging rights. Easy: 10 POINTS Medium: 20 POINTS Hard: 30 POINTS ________________________________________________ January 2025: Easy Level The Beth Israel Synagogue recently hired five new teachers for […]

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 […]

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 […]

A ‘Bissel’ of Torah: VAYISHLACH (GENESIS 32:4-36:9)

By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant   In last week’s parsha, Vayetzei, 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 […]