This week’s Torah portion is entitled Va-era, meaning “And I Appeared.” It’s the story of Adonai redeeming His people, by manifesting His power to Pharaoh, the Egyptians, and their gods.  “He alone is the One true, and living God.” Chapter six opens with a frustrated Moses. Adonai reminded him of His promise to redeem His […]

This week’s parasha is Shemot, which means, “names.”  It covers Exodus, Chapter 1:1 to Chapter 6:1.  The Hebrew title for this parasha comes from the first verse, which begins, “these are the names of the sons of Israel…,” and indeed, this book will follow what happens to the descendants of Jacob. We find in Chapter […]

This week’s passage is titled Va-y’chee, which means, “and he lived” and covers Genesis 47:28 – 50:26.  How appropriate that on this last Shabbat of 2023, we are covering the last parasha passage of Genesis, a passage filled with endings, but also new beginnings. The passage begins towards the end of Genesis 47, 17 years […]

The Parasha for this week is entitled Vayigash, which means “And He Came Near.” It is taken from the book of Genesis 44:18-47:27, In last week’s Parasha Joseph evaluated his brother’s honesty, by devising a plan to accuse them of thievery. He engineered a plan to accuse Benjamin, his younger brother, the son of his […]

The parasha for this week is Vayeshev, which means “And He Dwelt” and covers Genesis Chapters 37-40. At this time, Jacob lives  in Canaan, the land of his fathers.  Jacob’s favorite son Joseph, from his wife Rachel – his favorite wife, is 17 years old and is pasturing the flock with his older brothers from […]

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Vayishlach, meaning “And He Sent”. It covers Genesis 32-36. As it opens, Adonai instructs Jacob to return home to Canaan. Because of his previous deception, Jacob is concerned that his brother Esau will take revenge and kill him. Jacob sends messengers to Esau with a message of peace, but […]

Shabbat Shalom! This week’s parasha is Vayetze, which means “And He Went Out” and covers chapters Genesis 28:10 – 32:2.  We start this parasha with Jacob on his travels from Beersheba headed towards Haran, where his family decided to spend the night. While sleeping, God reached out to Jacob in a dream.  Jacob then makes […]

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Toledot, meaning “Generations.” Sibling rivalry began with Cain and Abel. It was evident with Isaac and Ishmael, and now with Esau and Jacob. And we see God’s sovereignty at work through the lives of His chosen people. Chapter 25 focuses on Issac and his family. He was forty years […]

This week’s parasha is entitled Chayei Sarah, meaning “The Life of Sarah” and covers Genesis 23:1-25:18. In this parasha we see God’s plan to continue His promises through Abraham’s son Isaac, and a teaching for us on what it means to be servants of the Lord. We open with the death of Abraham’s wife Sarah […]

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Vayera meaning, “And He Appeared.”  It covers Genesis, Chapter 18:1 to Chapter 22:24. Chapter 18 opens with Abraham sitting by his tent and God, manifested in the flesh as Yeshua, appears before him with two angels.  Abraham invites these three to a meal and quickly tells Sarah to prepare […]