Hope all is well. Yesterday I had the best of both worlds! I attended a Bris, a circumcision, and had a great breakfast. (There is something to the joke that we send two messages to the eight day old baby. Sometimes being Jewish is difficult… And there will be lots of food!”) … I happened […]

Hi, … Here’s something I found fascinating. Two secular Israeli archeologists wrote a book. This is a summary of what they said. “In the 13th century B.C.E., Egypt was at the peak of its authority. The dominant world power. Its border fortifications were extremely heavily guarded. Putting aside the possibility of Divinely inspired miracles? One […]

Hi, … Here’s something I found fascinating. Two secular Israeli archeologists wrote a book. This is a summary of what they said. “In the 13th century B.C.E., Egypt was at the peak of its authority.  The dominant world power. Its border fortifications were extremely heavily guarded. Putting aside the possibility of Divinely inspired miracles? One […]

Hi, Before we leave Egypt? We should think about why we were there to start with. Why was it G-d’s “master plan” that we become a nation in Egypt? What’s wrong with Florida! And why did we have to be slaves in Egypt? … Jewish tradition has many insights into this question. Here’s one. The […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. Moshe can’t get out of it. As much as he tries, G-d insists.  “You’re the man”! So Moshe is about to leave Midian and go to back to Egypt. For the most important mission in world history. To free the Jews and bring them to Mount Sinai. They […]

Hi, Hope all is well. … Genesis ends with the death of Jacob. He had come to Egypt with his family to be reunited with Joseph. When Jacob died? Joseph’s brothers were petrified. (Genesis, 50) “Now that Dad is gone, Joseph may take his revenge.  Finally even the score.” Joseph’s response? “Don’t worry.  You meant […]

Hi, Joseph puts his brothers through the ringer! (Genesis, 42-44) It certainly looks that way. … There’s a famine in the Land of Israel. Jacob sends his sons down to Egypt to buy food. And who’s in charge?  Joseph! He recognizes them.  But they don’t recognize him. Joseph accuses them of being spies. They deny […]

Hi, … The blessing of the children. It’s one of the most beautiful customs at the Shabbat Friday night meal. It sends a very important message to the child. Because we can imagine how a child might feel at a festive meal. With all those adults!  Talking about “adult stuff”! And there may be important […]

Hi, “Bible Stories.” The Torah is not meant to be a history book. Sometimes it will spend pages and pages on one story. Like Abraham taking care of guests. Or Joseph and his brothers. And then it will skip a few hundred years. Not a very complete history! The stories are there because they teach […]

Hi, Let’s start “Joseph and His Brothers.”  (Genesis, 37- 47) Joseph is the “apple of Jacob’s eye.” He shows it.  And the brothers see it. They’re very jealous.   And to top it off? Joseph tells his brothers about his dreams. How the brothers bowed down to Joseph. He seems to want to rule over them. […]