by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 29, 2022 | Vayigash
The Torah portion of Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) tells of Jacob and his sons moving down to Egypt to escape the famine in the Land of Canaan. The great 13th-century scholar and leader Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, also known as Nahmanides, understands this as a...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 22, 2022 | God, Messiah, Mikeitz
The Torah portion of Mikeitz (Genesis 41:1-44:17) opens with Pharaoh’s enigmatic dreams. After Pharaoh’s wizards and wise men failed to interpret the dreams accurately, Joseph was summoned from prison. His interpretations rang true to Pharaoh and Pharaoh was impressed...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 15, 2022 | Leadership, Responsibility, Vayeishev
Chapter 38 of the book of Genesis, which falls right in the middle of the Torah portion of Vayeishev (Genesis 37:1-40:23), recounts the story of Judah and his family. The question is, why is this story here? Just to be clear, I am not asking why this story is in the...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 8, 2022 | Vayishlach
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4 – 36:43), we read of the famous struggle between Jacob and a “man” the night before Jacob’s much-anticipated encounter with his brother Esau. The man turned out to be an angel. During the struggle, Jacob’s...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 24, 2022 | Uncategorized
“Once when Yaakov was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open, famished. And Esau said to Yaakov, “Give me some of that red stuff to gulp down, for I am famished”—which is why he was named Edom. Yaakov said, “First sell me your birthright.” And Esau said, “I...
