The Parasha with Rabbi Dweck

Yehuda and Yosef have a showdown at the pinnacle of the epic story. And Yosef falters. In this episode we examine the dynamics at play within the two brothers and between them. And recognise how hardships and personal change plays a role.

As Yosef is freed from jail by Pharaoh himself, he is quickly appointed to be viceroy of Egypt after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams and suggesting that Egypt could use some help with leadership. Pharaoh decides that Yosef is just what Egypt needs to bring them through years of famine so the country can remain intact. In this episode we recognise that Yosef was much more than just a director of agriculture. He became the face of Egypt and the question is, why? And what can we learn from his appointment for our own times?

Yosef and his brothers engage in an epic rift that has not been reconciled amongst us until this day. In this episode we look at the key features of the rift and how it manifests today, We take a special look at the role that Hanuka played here and what it might tell us about our current times.

The name Israel is presented for the first time in this parasha. We explore the significance of this name, its dormancy and rejuvenation and what it means to us today.

Yaakob Abinu dreams and sees a vision that changes his life and the lives of his progeny forever. A stairway to heaven. We consider the meaning of that nexus between Heaven and Earth and what it means for us as a people.

Yitzhak abinu is ready to bless his oldest son, Esav and endow him with the future leadership of the family of Israel. But he is met with a confusing situation that he must solve. In this episode we examine the situation before him, his choices and actions, and what the meaning might be in his final decision.

Sarah dies and and the immediate response of Abraham is to acquire land for burial in Canaan. Until this point, Abraham does not acquire land in this territory that God has given him. Instead, he opts to roam throughout. The loss of Sarah affects a final shift in Abraham, his relationship with God and his understanding of life. In this episode we explore the nature of that shift.

Vayera is a parasha that presents us a masterclass in the nature of giving. We follow Abraham on a journey of discovering what it means to be independent while also maintaining connections, empathy, and kindness. This episode looks at the various aspects of this as they are portrayed in the parasha.

The Story of Abraham begins this week. Abraham is the forefather of the nation of Israel and he dedicated his life to serving the one true God. His dedication to God brought him a love for all things as he saw them all originated in God. But Abraham recognised that this thesis was problematic and that while he wanted to embrace everything, he would need to make some difficult and painful choices between different possibilities in life. We explore the value of all things and why everything can't be special.

In this special episode I present a 45 minute thought and discussion on the Tower of Babel at the end of Perashat Noah. This was presented to members of Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) - International Jewish chapter.