But Wait, There’s More!
In Vayeitzei, Jacob encounters God in a dream, thus advancing the biblical journey of our people learning from and following the instruction of God. After the biblical era, our Sages found a way to expand our understanding of the Torah and its teachings.
Struggling With a Deceitful Heart
The inner turmoil that marked Jacob’s life of deceitfulness as well as his struggle with his father, brother, and sons are exposed in Vayishlach. After many years of separation, Jacob, about to meet his estranged brother, Esau, slept in a dream-like state of wakefulness on the shore of the Jabbok River where a man wrestled with him until the rise of dawn.
Ensuring the Success or Failure of Dreams
Reading Parashat Vayeishev and other dream-filled portions in Genesis, we wonder if it’s possible to influence a dream’s prophecy rather than passively waiting for the outcome to unfold. The upcoming holiday, Hanukkah, provides a clue.
Advice from a Father-in-Law
There is, in Pirke Avot,1 the teaching of a rabbi named Ben Bag Bag. He said:
Hafoch bah, vahafoch bah, d'chola bah, "Turn it and turn it, over and over, for everything is in it."
Rules and Regulations
After the Revelation at Sinai, after the giving of the Ten Commandments, after the thunder and lightning and the mountain covered in a cloud of smoke—what could possibly come next? What could follow that spectacular event?
God as Healer
This year, I have the pleasure of studying the Book of Exodus together with the lay-led Hebrew Bible study group at Temple Beth Or in Raleigh, North Carolina, where I serve as senior rabbi.
Real Angel Food
I love to sing. A large piece of what moves me in prayer is the music. There are times when I love to sit back and hear a beautiful piece of music; but most of the time in our synagogue, we try to inspire the congregation to sing with us. It isn't easy.
Perplexing Problems of Divine Power
Parashat B'shalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) contains a startling mixture of themes and symbols: manifestations of God's power and miracles, God and Israel testing each other, complaints against Moses and Aaron, water, manna, and the staff of God.
Splitting the Sea . . . So What!
Who is like You, Almighty God, who split the Sea of Reeds for our people to cross . . .
Dolphin Skins?
"And the waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all the host of Pharaoh that went in after them into the sea; there remained not so much as one of them." (Exod. 14:28)