Fear can be a handy tool when used properly

Video version: https://youtu.be/NXbvgI5Epp0

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’” (Bereshit/Genesis 32:10–13; English 32:9–12)

Vayishlach

For the week of December 6, 2025 / 16 Kislev 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 (English: 32:3 – 36:43)

Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 – 12:12

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-08

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God's complex love for Israel

Video version: https://youtu.be/4JcfEM4ya4g

I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death. (Hoshea/Hosea 13:14)

Vayetzei

For the week of November 29, 2025 / 9 Kislev 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 28:10 – 32:3

Haftarah: Hoshea/Hosea 12:13 – 14:10 (English: 12:12 – 14:9)

Originally posted the week of December 7, 2024 / 6 Kislev 5785 (revised)

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-07

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Does prayer really make a difference?

And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. (Bereshit/Genesis 25:21)

Video version: https://youtu.be/AODGnyX3mSc

Toledot

For the week of November 22, 2025 / 2 Kislev 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 20:18-42

Originally posted the week of November 22, 2014 / 29 Heshvan 5775 (updated)

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-06

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Faith shouldn't be mindless

Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. And he said to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, “But if you will, hear me: I give the price of the field. Accept it from me, that I may bury my dead there.” (Bereshit/Genesis 23:12-13)

Video version: https://youtu.be/l5P1cgshw_Y

Hayyei Sarah

For the week of November 15, 2025 / 25 Heshvan 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 23:1 – 25:18

Haftarah: 1 Melachim/1 Kings 1:1-31

Originally posted the week of November 23, 2019 / 25 Heshvan 5780

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-05

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Truth is stranger than fiction

And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. (Bereshit/Genesis 20:2)

Video version: https://youtu.be/XFzijOGCGPQ

Vayera

For the week of November 8, 2025 / 17 Heshvan 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 18:1 – 22:24

Haftarah: 2 Melachim/2 Kings 4:1-37

Originally posted the week of November 4, 2017 / 15 Heshvan 5778 (updated)

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-04

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God watches Israel's back

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Bereshit/Genesis 12:1–3)

Lech Lecha

For the week of November 1, 2025 / 10 Heshvan 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 12:1 - 17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27 - 41:16

Video version: https://youtu.be/VjLO-DrVw54

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-03

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For God so loved the cosmos!

And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” (Bereshit/Genesis 9:1)

Noach

For the week of October 25, 2025 / 3 Heshvan 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1 - 55:5

Originally posted the week of October 24, 2020 / 6 Heshvan 5781 (updated)

Video version: https://youtu.be/WrAjiNnrH4M

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-02

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God's blessings are expressions of his creative power

Video version: https://youtu.be/dk6ggDJjpFk

And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Bereshit/Genesis 1:28)

Bereshit

For the week of October 18, 2025 / 26 Tishrie 5786

Torah: Bereshit/Genesis 1:1 - 6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:11

Originally posted the week of October 2, 2021 / 26 Tishrie 5782

NET Bible: https://netbible.org/

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-sukkot

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We have unfettered access to God

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” (Shemot/Exodus 33:18)

Sukkot

For the week of October 11, 2025 / 19 Tishrei 5786

Torah: Shemot/Exodus 33:12 - 34:26; B’midbar/Numbers 29:23-31

Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18 - 39:16

Video version: https://youtu.be/LSLjyf9Xu-g

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-sukkot

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What if the God of the Bible were truly your father?

Do you thus repay the Lord, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you? (D’varim/Deuteronomy 32:6)

Ha’azinu

For the week of October 4, 2025 / 12 Tishri 5786

Torah: D’varim/Deuteronomy 32:1-52

Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Originally posted the week of September 18, 2021 / 12 Tishri 5782 (updated)

Video version: https://youtu.be/6n6aA28y_4o

Text version: https://torahbytes.org/86-53

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