Descendants of Esau and Jacob: Naming Names and Telling Tales (Genesis 36:1-43)
In psychotherapy, it is generally proposed that the beginning of coping consists of naming the problem or issue with which one is having difficulties. But giving a name is insufficient. Stories must be told in order to give substance to memories and emotions and allow them to be synthesized and then set aside, not as […]
Esau versus Jacob: Naming Names and Telling Tales (Genesis 36:1-43)
Why are the generations of descendants of Esau merely listed in these 43 verses with no stories told about any of them? In contrast, in the next parasha, we are introduced to an in-depth tale about Jacob’s sons, most predominantly his youngest son, Joseph. Of course, this is the story that leads to the tale […]
Power of choice (Ha’azinu: Deuteronomy 32: 19-28)
After having escaped from Egypt, we Jews faced a number of critical points at which our collective decisionmaking skills were challenged. Perhaps the most dramatic example was at Mount Sinai when the persistence of our slave mentality affected our ability to weigh alternatives and make a choice based upon the basic tenets of Judaism. When […]
Joseph’s Brothers Prostrated Themselves – Are We? (Bereshit 42:1-7)
I grew up believing that Jews bow down only to the One God, our Creator, and never to another human being. The Purim story tells us that Mordechai refused to bow to Haman, an act that began the chain of events that led to Haman’s own humiliation and death. Yet, upon reaching Egypt, Joseph’s brothers […]
What Has Deuteronomy Got to Do with Bullies on Facebook? (Deuteronomy 19:15-21)
The Torah verse in Deuteronomy, discussing false witness, may be particularly relevant to us now in the modern virtual era when bullies can tell lies that spread farther and faster than the most virile disease or brush fire. The verse begins by indicating the number of eyewitnesses required to validate that a crime was committed […]
Is Our Only Hope Via a Strong Arm Policy? (Exodus 13:17-14:31)
The Pharoah finally let the Israelites leave, and there was a short way to Israel and a long way. The short way was through the land of the Philistines (Pelesht), an area currently known as Gaza. The long way was through Sinai and into Israel via the Jordan River. This verse states that God did […]
First Inspiration – Deuteronomy 33-34: Understanding Being the Parent of Adult Children
Moses climbed Mount Nevo, from which point he could watch as the Israelites crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land. He blessed each of the tribes of Israel, het Moses was forbidden by God to enter the land together with his people. He had led them out of slavery in Egypt and through the […]