By Joy Scott, Am Haskalah Congregant In last week’s Parsha (VAYETZEI), we read about how Jacob had betrayed both his father (Isaac) and his twin brother (Esau), motivated by his mother, Rebecca. Jacob’s mother favored him over his brother, and was aware that Isaac’s birthright and blessings would be endowed to Esau, who was the […]
Posts in the A ‘Bissel’ of Torah category:
A weekly dvar Torah from our wonderful Joy Scott.
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: VAYETZEI (GENISIS 28:10-32:3) By Joy Scott Am Haskalah Congregant
This week’s Parsha (VAYETZEI) begins with Jacob on the run from his family and home. Every aspect of his life is complicated. Although, he leaves his home with his father’s (Isaac) birthright and blessings, these blessings were obtained under false pretenses. His relationships with each of his family members are clouded, as is the journey […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: V’ZOTHABRACHA (DEUTERONOMY 33:1-34:12)
This week’s Torah Parsha (V’ZOTHABRACHA) is the final reading in the last of the five books of the Torah (DEUTERONOMY). The Parsha begins with Moses blessing each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Echoing Jacob’s blessings to his twelve sons, five generations earlier, Moses assigns and empowers each tribe with its individual role within the […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: HAAZINU (DEUTERONOMY 32:1-32:52)
It is no coincidence that this week’s Torah Parsha (HAAZINU) is read on the Shabbat following the ‘Ten Days of Repentance’. Following Yom Kippur, when we are all experiencing a heightened spiritual sensitivity, we read Moses’ final speech to the ‘Children of Israel’. The greater part of Parsha (HAAZINU) is comprised of a seventy line […]
A ‘BISSEL’ OF TORAH: VAYELECH (DEUTERONOMY 31:1-31:30)
By Joy Scott, Congregant This week’s Torah Parsha (VAYELECH) is both heartrending, as well as being inspirational. It begins with Moses speaking the following words to the Children of Israel: “Today, I am one hundred and twenty years old; and, the Lord has told me that I will not cross the Jordan with you, to […]