What makes Sodom such a sinful city? Torah tells us that the people would gather into a mob to abuse…
Category: Torah
Gates of Tears
From the day that the Temple was destroyed, the heavenly gates of prayer were locked. . . nevertheless, the gates of tears…
Ambiguous Kiss
The Ambiguous Kiss (2009/5770) Brothers Jacob and Esau parted in conflict. Then, after years of separation, they met again. Torah…
Rachel & Leah in the Amidah
“Rachel and Leah answered, saying, is there a place for us in our father’s house?” (Bereisheet/Genesis 31:14) Should the names…
Unselfish Prayer?
In Jewish tradition, we think of prayer as tefillah, self-examination; shevach, praise; and bakashah, request. Traditional bakashot are unselfish general requests that benefit many: healing, world peace, good weather for…
Reading Between the Lines of Isaac's Binding
“God said: please take your son, your only one, whom you love, Yitzchak…and offer him there for a burnt offering.…
Vayigash: Prejudice and Projection
NOTE: I wrote this in 2009; I would write it quite differently today! Judah approaches the Viceroy in charge of…
Our Name is Gratitude
When Leah’s fourth son is born, she names him Judah. In Hebrew, that’s Yehudah: gratitude. Yehuda‘s name honours the miraculous…
What's in a Name?
In Parshat Vayetzei, twelve babies are born and named by their legal mothers Leah and Rachel. For each boy, Torah…