Today’s Torah portion is titled, “Mishpatim,” which means “Judgements.”  It covers Exodus: 21:1–24:18.  This parasha passage is also known as Sefer ha B’Rit (The Book of the Covenant), since this 4 chapter parasha contains over 10% of the 613 commandments found in the Torah. We often forget that the ancient world was a very brutal […]

Yitro, the Hebrew name for Jethro, is our parasha for this Shabbat. Parashat Yitro covers Exodus 18:1-20:23. Besides practical management advice, this parasha contains the Ten Commandments, and a lesson for those who would approach Adonai on their terms. Chapter 18 begins with Jethro, Moses’ Father-In-Law, going out to meet Moses at the base of Mount Sinai […]

The name of this week’s parasha is Beshalach, which means “when he sent” or “when he let go,” and covers Exodus 13:17-17:16.  After Pharaoh finally released the Jewish people, Adonai led them along the Red Sea with a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.  Moses took Joseph’s bones when […]

Today’s Parsha is entitled Bo which means ‘Go’ and covers Exodus 10:1 through 13:16. Egypt has already suffered severely through seven plagues. Moses was instructed to announce to Pharaoh yet another plague –  the plague of locusts. This time, Moses’ warning produced a great reaction. The situation had become so desperate, that finally Pharaoh’s officers dared […]

This week’s Torah portion is Va’era, which means “and I appeared” and covers Exodus 6:2-9:35. In last week’s parasha, Moses and Aaron were sent to see Pharaoh and request him to allow them to celebrate a feast for three days in the wilderness. Pharaoh does not allow this to happen, and he increases the Israelis’ […]

Being on the Right Side of (Repeated) History Our Torah reading this Shabbat bears the same name as the book it introduces: Shemot meaning “names”. The English name for the book, Exodus, is borrowed from Greek, and means “the way out”. It reflects the real, historical, monumental event of Israel leaving Egypt as a free […]

This week we end the book of Genesis with parasha Vayechi which translates to “and he lived”. It takes us from Genesis 47:28 to 50:26 and finishes the book of Genesis.  This parasha contains the final Messianic prophecy of Genesis as well as a powerful lesson on forgiveness. Our parasha begins with Jacob making Joseph swear an […]

This week’s parasha is entitled VaYigash, which means, “and he drew near.”  It covers Genesis 44:18 – 47:27. Last week, Rabbi Glenn left us with a cliffhanger at the end of his parasha commentary as Joseph’s brothers were about to depart Egypt for the second time.  The evening before, they had feasted with Joseph, who […]

The parasha for this week is entitled MiKetz, meaning “at the conclusion” and covers Genesis 41:1-44:17. Joseph has been in prison in Egypt on a bogus rape charge. Poor Joseph; betrayed by his brothers, enslaved in Egypt, imprisoned on false charges. But everywhere he went, Joseph conducted himself with integrity and God was with him. […]

Last week’s Torah portion was called Vayeshev, which means, “and he settled.”  It covers Genesis 37: 1-40:23. After more than 20 years of being away, Jacob returns to the Promised Land and settles in Hebron.  In Chapter 37, we are introduced to Joseph, who is Jacob’s favorite son, born ofRachel, Jacob’s favorite wife.  Jacob gives this favorite son a beautiful, […]