Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyetze, November 28, 2020

28:10-32:3 Interpreting a Dream   Jacob left Beer-sheba bound for Haran. Stopping for the night at a certain place, he fell asleep and had a strange dream. “And behold, a ladder was set in the ground, and its top reached …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Toledot, November 21, 2020

Genesis 25:19-28:9 A Common Message   The three encounters between Jacob and Esau in this week’s reading seem to contain a common message. The first time the twins “meet” is in their mother’s womb. They pressed hard against each other, …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Ḥayyei Sarah, November 14, 2020

Genesis 23:1-28:9 Like Uncle, Like Nephew (Sort of)   In this week’s portion, Abraham sends his (unnamed) servant to the city of Nahor to find a bride for his son Isaac. When the servant arrives, we are introduced to two …

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Weekly Torah Reading Vayyera’ November 7, 2020

  (Genesis chapters 18:1-22:24) “Now I know…”   The Torah’s account of Abraham’s near-sacrifice of his son Isaac has raised questions among readers since ancient times. Among other things, commentators wondered why God needed to test Abraham in the first …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Lekh-Lekha, October 31, 2020

Genesis 12:1-17:27   Melchizedek’s Mistake   When Abraham (technically, still “Abram”) learned that his nephew Lot had been taken prisoner by an army invading Canaan, he did not hesitate to act. “He led forth his trained men, 318 of them, …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Noah, October 24, 2020

Genesis 6:9-11:32 The Holy Language   This week’s Torah reading ends with a somewhat mysterious incident, the building of the Tower of Babel. The Torah recounts that a ragtag band of people (apparently all of humanity at the time) traveled …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Bereshit, October 17, 2020

Genesis 1:1-6:9 Blind Luck   This week’s reading opens with an account of the creation of the world, including the creation of the first two human beings, Adam and Eve. These chapters are so significant that we tend to overlook …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Shemini ‘Atzeret/ Simḥat Torah, October 10, 2020

The Eternal Return   Within the land of Israel, the end of the seven-day Sukkot festival is followed by a special, one-day festival, Shemini ‘Atzeret, the “Eighth Day of Solemn Assembly.” But since Jews living outside of Israel must observe …

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