Simon, brother of Joseph. Why does Joseph, Viceroy of Egypt, single him out for punishment? To answer, I’ll give some context, then read between the lines. Years ago, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. But, through twists and turns of fate, he becomes Viceroy of Egypt. And, in a time of regional famine, Joseph decides who…
Category: Torah
Hanukah's Hidden Light
Hanukah has a clear spiritual meaning. On one level, it’s simple. And, on another, it’s mystical. Winter is a dark time. Daylight is short. Night is long. With just a few hours of sun, we humans don’t get enough vitamin D. So we get a little depressed. We need a lift. Something to substitute for…
A Dream of Dad
I dreamed about my late mother. Just a simple dream. I am walking with my mother. But I can’t keep up. So, she is half a block ahead, waiting for me. My late mother is so precious to me. But, when I was young, she was full of grief. And I still carry the scars.…
Abishag the Shunammite
Abishag the Shunnamite. Find her story in the first biblical Book of Kings, chapters 1 and 2. Who is Abishag? Abishag is a beautiful young woman. King David’s courtiers hire her to arouse the king sexually. Some interpreters say: the courtiers think a sexually potent king is politically potent. (Of course interpreters think that’s part…
Mystical Morals for Abraham
Melchizedek: the mystical stranger who shows up to bless Abraham. And then disappears. Is he even real—not historically, but in the story? Or is he just one of Abraham’s visions? And why would we care? Because the answer tells us something about the nature of mystical experience. How it relates to emotion. And also to morality.…
Noah the Activist
What is activism? And is Noah an activist? Rabbinic Views of Noah Our sages don’t ask the question that way. Instead, they ask: how good was Noah, really. Torah says, “Noah was a perfectly righteous man in his generation” (Gen. 6:9). What does this mean? Should we be impressed at Noah’s moral compass? Because, even…
Creation in Kabbalah
Genesis: A non-literal Creation story Creation: the beginning of the Torah. A great time to reflect on how we read. Also, on what we may find when we read thoughtfully! For example, the creation story is supposed to provide a religious foundation. But when we read it carefully, we may question those very foundations. We…
Kohelet: Life, Politics, Spirit
What is Kohelet (Ecclesiastes)? It’s a work of existential philosophy, about the meaning of life. A political critique, looking realistically at life under monarchy, and how one can safely resist abuses. And a work of spiritual wisdom, teaching about equanimity under stress. Traditionally, Jews read this Biblical book each fall, during the holiday of Sukkot.…
End Times: How to Hope
Yes, we are living in the end times, says the prophet Zechariah. We are always living in the end times. So he tells us in his prophetic book, whose last chapter (14) we read in synagogue on Sukkot, the Feast of Booths. But Zechariah sees the end times as a good thing. Why? God, he…
Trafficking Biblical Women
Sex trafficking. It’s in the news. A Q-Anon theory that sex trafficking is rampant. And only Trump can stop it. After all, “he” arrested Epstein and Maxwell. Anyone can argue that this is factually false. (See below.) But I’m not going to talk facts. Well, maybe briefly. But then I’m going to look at human…