Between 538 and 520 BCE, a first wave of Jews exiled from Judea by Nebuchadnezzar leave Persia to come home.…
Month: December 2016
When Bridges Collapse (Miketz)
Last week, the 14-member U.N. Security Council passed, with a vote of 13-0, a resolution condemning Israel’s expansion of settlements…
Family Dynamics (Vayeshev)
As a newlywed, I used to say, “The hardest part of marriage is having in-laws.” Life in my own odd…
Jacob's Crossings—and Yours
At the first meeting of a class, discussion, or spiritual direction group, I invite people to introduce themselves. Sometimes, I’ll ask…
Talking about God
I’m kind of an unreflective theist; I grew up hearing the word “God.” On Shabbat, my family sang, “On the seventh…
Magic Stones (Vayetze)
Jacob sets out from Beersheva towards Charan. He encounters a place, and sleeps there, because the sun has set. He…
Rebecca's Inner Struggles
Rebecca became pregnant. The children struggled within her. She said, “If this is the case, why should I exist?” She…