The Parasha with Rabbi Dweck

At 17 Yosef seems to lack basic tact and awareness of his social and circumstantial surroundings. It is so severe that he ends up being sold into slavery by his own brothers. But Yosef goes through profound hardship and deeply adjusts the way he is in the world. In this episode we examine these lessons and changes and how the difficulties he experienced triggered them.

In this episode we examine the episode of Dina's rape by Shekhem. We explore the response of Yaakob as well as his sons and what we learn about fundamental differences between their philosophies. We look at how those approaches manifest within us today and what we might do.

Yaakob has a dream in which God commits to keeping with him as he leaves the land and promises to bring him back to the land. We explore what this means for us, his descendants in our current lives.

Esav and Yaakob are twins. Yet, Esav the elder famously sells his birthright to Yaakob. In this episode we explore why Esav may have done that, and why Yaakob was better equipped to hold it.

After Sarah dies, Abraham makes his first purchase of land in Canaan. It is a burial plot for his family. When making the purchase, he refers to himself as ger vetoshab - a sojourner and a citizen. These terms seem to be contradictory. What could he have meant? In this episode we explore the meaning of the term and why it was later used in several instances when speaking about establishing a home.

Abraham is now in covenant with God. How he lives in the world changes because of this. And how he sees things is affected. We explore what has changed and what he sees highlighting that the name of the Parasha is Hebrew for 'seeing'.

Lekh Lekha begins the story of the Jewish people with the story of the founder of the movement - Abraham. God engages in covenant with Abraham and promises him not a Torah, but land and children. What are the implications of this for our modern Jewish identity?

The first covenant of the Torah is established in Noah. What was it about Noah that was worthy of surviving the flood and why is it presented in Torah for us?

Moses in his final words tells Israel that they are all "standing" In this episode we explore what that might mean and what implications it has for Rosh Hashana.

The famous charge to pursue righteousness, Sedek, sedek, tirdof! opens our parasha. We explore the implications of this charge and how we might apply it to our own lives.