Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyeshev, December 21, 2019   Genesis 37:1-44:17   His Father’s Face In this week’s reading, it is said that Jacob “loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age” …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyishlaḥ, December 14, 2019

Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyishlaḥ, December 14, 2019 Genesis 32:4-37:1   “Pay Up!”   On the eve of his return to the land of Canaan, Jacob learned that his brother Esau, who had previously sworn to kill him, was now on …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyetze, December 7, 2019 (Genesis 28:10-32:3)

Keep on Climbing 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 to the …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Toledot, November 30, 2019

Genesis 25:19-28:9   What a Difference an Aleph Makes!   In this week’s Torah reading, Isaac is now dwelling in Beer Sheba, and the Philistine king, Abimelech, comes with his aides to meet him. Isaac and Abimelech have had rather …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Ḥayyei Sarah, November 23, 2019

Weekly Torah Reading, Ḥayyei Sarah, November 23, 2019 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. …

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Weekly Torah Reading Vayyera’ November 16, 2019

Weekly Torah Reading Vayyera’ Nov. 16, 2019   (Genesis chapters 18-22)   “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 …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Lekh-Lekha, November 9, 2019

Weeklyh Portion: Lekh-Lekha (Genesis chaps. 12-17)   Abraham’s Request   This week’s reading contains one particularly puzzling episode. After Abraham has arrived in Canaan, a famine strikes the land, and he and his wife Sarah are forced to travel down …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Noah, November 2, 2019

The Bad Side of Tower-Building   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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