On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Vayigash: Jewish-Catholic Relations: On Reconnecting
In Parashat Vayigash, Joseph, now a high-ranking Egyptian leader, finally reunites with the brothers who sold him into slavery. The moment where Joseph reveals himself has been a dramatic analog in the history of Jewish/Catholic relations.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Mikeitz: Where is God Today?
Parashat Mikeitz is the second parashah in the Joseph cycle, which is remarkable for many reasons—one of which being it’s biggest missing character: God.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Vayeishev: Losing and Finding Connection
In Parashat Vayeishev, Joseph is asked by his father to go check on the “shalom”—the peace, or wholeness—of his brothers. Those familiar with Joseph’s story know that he had differences with his brothers even though they had the familial connection.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Vayishlach: Knowing When to Wrestle and When to Hug
In Parashat Vayishlach, Jacob has a transformative night encounter where he wrestles somebody—but who? Is it a guardian angel, an actual adversary, his conscience, or something else?
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Vayeitzei: Hate Will Not Define Us
In Parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob leaves Beersheba and sets out on a journey full of potential danger and panic. Reading this parashah only a few weeks after the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings, it especially resonates this year.
Stories We Tell: Honesty's Reward
Wholly Jewish: Gina: The Path I’ve Chosen
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah --Tol'dot: The Value in Both Esau and Jacob
Parashat Tol’dot tells the story of Esau and Jacob—two archetypes. Most people have a little bit of Esau and Jacob in them, even though Esau hasn’t historically been an honored typology in Jewish life.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tol'dot: Who Will Carry Our Tradition Forward?
Many of us know the story of Jacob and Esau, the brothers who could not be more different from one another.
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah -- Tzav: Courageous Choices
This week's Torah portion, Parashat Tzav, is read around Purim, a story of mythic (and even improbable) proportions that remains enduringly relevant to Jewish Diaspora life and anti-Jewish persecution throughout the centuries.