Vayechi 5784

A new ‘secular’ year, 2024, is approaching. The end of the ‘secular’ year is a reckoning and an evaluation time for many people in the world. For many of us, Jews, too. Although we count years in our own way we are still part of the general human population and we follow many of their patterns. 

Having Continue Reading

 Thoughts on parashat Miketz.

The story of Joseph is, to some extent, a story of meritocracy. We cannot deny that he was accompanied by Divine providence (or luck, as some would prefer to say), nevertheless the text of the Torah provides us with clear evidence that Joseph earned his position in Egypt:  

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Thoughts on parashat Toldot. 

The Torah is not a collection of ethical role models given us to simply follow. While the stories of the entire Hebrew Bible contain a lot of role models very few qualify as ethical ones. What we find there are often political and leadership role models – like Moses, Joshua, Kings Continue Reading

Thoughts on parashat Chayei Sarah and a short lecture on contemporary philosophy. 

The Torah portion this week describes the death of the mother and the father of our nation – Sarah and Abraham. According to Midrash (Pirkei De-Rabbi Eliezer Chapter 31) Sarah died of despair after learning that Abraham had murdered Continue Reading

Thoughts on parashat Vayera. 

I had a dream two days ago. I was in my old neighborhood, in Przemyśl, Poland, with two other men approximately my age. We had machine guns and wore bullet proof vests. We were chased by a group of militants who wanted to kill us. At some point the three of us split and entered different Continue Reading

Thoughts on parashat Lech Lecha. 

Lech Lecha – God speaks to Abram, commanding him, “Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.” Then God promises him that he will be made into a great nation. Abram and his wife, Sarai, accompanied by his nephew Continue Reading

Thoughts on parashat Ha’azinu. 

Have you ever had moments when you feel an intimate connection with God, as if He is right beside you, and then times when He seems so far away? God communicates with us and provides signs that He is watching over us, but He does not “break into our homes” uninvited.

This week’s Continue Reading

Thoughts on Rosh Hashanah 5784.

Yesterday night I talked about what we actually celebrate on Rosh Hashanah – humanity! I believe humanity at its essence is connection. Connection with other human beings. 

Do you recall your beliefs from your twenties? I’ve been reflecting on this recently, and it’s Continue Reading

Thoughts on Rosh Hashanah 5784.

In times of widespread divisiveness and tribalism – Rosh Hashanah reminds us to celebrate community so we celebrate being together and we celebrate our connections with other human beings. What do we celebrate on Rosh Hashanah? A pretty common answer is: we celebrate the creation Continue Reading

Thoughts on parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. 

There are quite a few notions or religious practices described in the Hebrew Bible of which our understanding is limited. In many cases, the bridges between us and these ancient rituals are to be found in the rabbinic literature, which helps us understand these ideas and Continue Reading