by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 22, 2023 | Covenant, Vayeitzei
At the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3), we find Jacob on the run after leaving home in the wake of the events surrounding his acquisition of his father’s blessings. Jacob’s brother, Esau, vowed to kill Jacob after the death of...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 21, 2023 | Isaiah
This prophecy of the end times describes the multitudes among the nations who will visit Jerusalem and worship God there. Take note of the verb used at the end of the verse to describe this gathering of the nations in Jerusalem: and all the nations will stream to it....
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 16, 2023 | Toldot
“Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came from the open and he was exhausted. Esau said to Jacob, ‘Feed me, please, from this red, red stuff for I am exhausted.’ He was therefore named Edom [red]. Jacob said, ‘First, sell your birthright to me.’ Esau said, ‘Behold, I am...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 9, 2023 | Chayei Sara, Kindness and Compassion
After Abraham’s death, the Bible tells us that Issac and Ishmael reunited to bury their deceased father together: “Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and he was gathered to his people. His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the...
by Rabbi Pesach Wolicki | f 2, 2023 | Prayer, Vayeira
In last week’s column, we saw how one feature of Abraham’s life was his confusion about God’s plan. In this week’s Torah portion, Vayeira (Genesis 18:1-22:24), we encounter numerous examples of this phenomenon. One such episode is the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah....
