by Rabbi | Dec 6, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog
Vayishlach is a packed portion, mostly focusing on Yaakov and his road to redemption from being Yaakov to becoming Yisrael. The portion opens with Ya’akov sending messengers to Esav, their encounter and their settling things out. It is in this story that Ya’akov has...
by Rabbi | Dec 6, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog, Uncategorized
Our portion is Vayishlach, and it is the last one where angels figure extensively through one of the patriarchs, Ya’akov (Jacob). With next portion, Vayeshev, the presence of angels will diminish – Yosef has no encounters with angels. But angels will...
by Rabbi | Nov 28, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog
Vayetze is a fundamental portion for our collective historical arch in the Torah. It brings the birth of the carriers of the story onwards – the children of Yaakov, who will become the Children of Israel. Many of the stories we read in our portion have correlations...
by Rabbi | Nov 22, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog, Uncategorized
Toldot is the one reading that is dedicated to Yitzchak alone – and Yitzchak’s character and personality are not very developed since he is squeezed between two strong characters, Avraham and Yaakov. He also marries a strong woman, which is Rivkah. Early in the...
by Rabbi | Nov 22, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog, Uncategorized
Unlike the stories I usually tell, which might be true might not, this one actually happened. It was told to me by one of my teachers, rabbi Ed Feinstein, who was the actual rabbi in this story. This happened in the late eighties early nineties. Grandpa got sick. With...
by Rabbi | Nov 11, 2020 | Rabbi's Blog
To pray is to take notice of wonder, to regain a sense of mystery that animates all beings, the divine margin in all attainments. Prayer is our humble answer to the inconceivable surprise of living. It is all we can offer in return for the mystery by which we live....
