This week’s Torah portion Yitro, meaning Jethro is relatively short, but one of the most theologically complex of the Torah portions. It covers Moses’ reunion with Jethro his father-in-law, Israel’s encounter with Adonai at Mount Sinai, and the giving of the Decalogue – The Ten Commandments). Chapter eighteen opens with Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses’ […]

This Shabbat’s parasha is entitled Beshalach, meaning “When he sent”, referring to Pharaoh finally letting Israel go (after ten terrible plagues). It takes us through Exodus chapter 17. When God led us out of Egypt, He didn’t take us straight north. While it would have been a much shorter route, it would have taken us […]

This week’s Parasha is titled Bo, which means “Go”.  It starts in Exodus 10 where the Lord tells Moses that He has further hardened Pharaoh’s already hard heart.  I believe this is the first time in this series of plagues that Adonai will make sure Pharaoh’s heart is hardened through plagues eight, nine, and ten. […]

This week’s Torah portion is called Va-era, which means, “And I appeared.”  It covers Exodus, 6:2 – 9:35. In the opening of Chapter 6, when things are very tough for the Israelis with them having to gather the straw to make the bricks for building, God shines through with His Saving power.  In verses 6 […]

Exodus opens with the names of the tribes that went to Egypt. After some time, Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died. According to God’s promise, the Jewish people multiplied greatly while in Egypt; from seventy-five people to nearly two million. One of God’s promises was to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as […]

This weekend, we acknowledge National Sanctity of Human Life Day. In Ronald Reagan’s original proclamation, he called upon all people to reaffirm our “…commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of each human life.” This should not be a controversial belief to affirm and share. Yet, so many create exceptions and […]

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Va-y’chee meaning “And He Lived.”  Jacob lived an unsettled and storm-tossed life, but he’s aware that Adonai is always with him. His faith remained strong, and the blessing of his sons set the stage for the future of the Jewish people. Chapter forty-seven describes the final years of Jacob’s […]

Our last parasha ended on a cliffhanger, with a still-hidden Joseph telling his brothers Benjamin would remain in Egypt. This week our parasha concludes Joseph’s testing of his brothers. Our parasha this week is called Vayigash which translates to “And He Drew Near” and covers Genesis 44:18-47:27. This parasha shows us how love covers a multitude […]

The Torah reading for this week is entitled Miketz, which means “At the End.” It covers Genesis chapters 41:1-44:17. Divine sovereignty is now at work. Now It was Pharaoh who dreamed, now the cupbearer remembers, now Joseph’s was “at the end” of his imprisonment. Joseph was “Now” brought before Pharaoh, freshly shaven, and decently clothed. […]

This Shabbat’s parasha is entitled Vayeshev, meaning, “…and he dwelt.” Do you remember the old expression, Meanwhile, back at the ranch? It probably was taken from the old black and white westerns, where the action shifts frequently from place to place. Vayeshev is a lot like that: the narrator (Moses) shifts our attention from place […]