RJ Blog

Beginning this week Visit URJ’s new site For Torah haiku You might have read about the URJ’s new website, ReformJudaism.org, which includes it’s own blog. As RJ.org transitions to a sort of “insider’s blog” about congregational life and Movement activity, the new website is the right place for material like The Torah In Haiku. So, starting with this week’s entry on Yitro, you’ll now find my quick takes on the weekly Parsha at its new home. After you’ve gotten your haiku fix for the week, be sure to take some time to explore the new website and blog for a [...]

It’s Shabbat Shirah Time to read Shirat HaYam The song of the sea Who is like You G-d? Majestic in holiness Doing miracles    

Turn rods into snakes? Pharaoh’s men can do it, too. Plagues will be required   Exodus 7:10-13 Moses and Aaron came to Pharaoh. They did exactly as G-d had said. Aaron threw his staff down before Pharaoh, and it became a viper. Pharaoh summoned his scholars and magicians. The master symbolists were able to do the same thing with their magic tricks. When each one threw down his staff, [the staffs] all turned into vipers. Aaron’s staff then swallowed up their staffs. But Pharaoh remained obstinate and did not pay attention to them, just as God had predicted.   Image by Robyn Jay [...]

Moses finds a wife Jethro’s daughter Tzipporah A Midianite   Image from The Prince of Egypt  

As Genesis ends We see the last of Joseph And two thousand twelve At new beginnings Or when, for some, it’s the end We need strength – Chazak

Slavery begins Not the Jews, but Egyptians Become Pharoah’s serfs Genesis 47:19: Why should we die before your very eyes – us and our land? Buy our bodies and our land in exchange for bread. Let us become Pharaoh’s serfs, and let our land [also be his]. Trouble foreshadowed A new Pharoah will not like Events in Goshen Genesis 47:27: Meanwhile, [the fledgling nation of] Israel lived in Egypt, in the Goshen district. They acquired property there, and were fertile, with their population increasing very rapidly.

Joseph’s sons are born Menasseh and Ephraim Their mom’s Egyptian The Maccabees fought But Joseph seems to embrace Assimilation Genesis 41:50-52: Joseph had two sons before the famine years came, borne to him by Asenath, daughter of Poti Phera, priest of On. Joseph named the first-born Menasseh – ‘Because God has made me forget (nasheh) all my troubles – and even my father’s house.’ He named his second son Ephraim – ‘Because God has made me fruitful (p’ri) in the land of my suffering.’ Mikeitz is almost always read during Hanukkah, and presents a stark contrast to the Hanukkah story. [...]

Sibling jealously Because Joseph was favored By father Jacob Genesis 37:3-4: Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son os his old age; and he made him a long colorful coat. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Or was anger caused By young Joseph’s arrogance When he shared a dream? Genesis 37:5-8: Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Hear, I beg [...]

Jacob and Esau Brothers are reunited Twice in this parsha At their first meeting Jacob fears his brother’s wrath But Esau is kind Then their father dies They both return to Hebron To bury Isaac

Laban tricks Jacob What goes around comes around Biblical karma? At Jewish weddings We remember this story With the bedeken

Rivkah and Ya’kov Conspire to mislead Yitzchak She knows it’s G-d’s will Another story Of family dysfunction Our founders? Human. The commentators say Rebeccah had to make sure Jacob got Isaac’s blessing, because of what G-d told her when she was pregnant and the twins were fighting in her womb.

To bury Sarah Abe makes sure he buys a place Cave of Machpelah Many will join her Patriarchs and Matriarchs But Jews can’t visit After the death of Sarah, Abraham sought a place to bury his wife. In Chapter 23 of Genesis, we read about the purchase of the Cave of Machpelah. It was offered to him as a gift, but Abraham insisted that he pay for the burial site so that the land would become his uncontested property. Historical reality doesn’t always comport with the Biblical record, and today there are severe restrictions of the ability of Jews to visit Machpelah, [...]

Looks back to Sodom But angels said, “Don’t do that” Lot’s wife turns to salt Severe punishment? Commentators seek answers Here are some of them Click and learn: Each word in the last line above links to a different online commentary in which the author explores some reasons why Lot’s wife might have looked back, why she was punished or what lessons we can take from the story.

At Abraham’s bris He was 99 years old Shver tzu zein a Yid*