Category Archives: Uncategorized

One of our favorite shopping places as children was going “down” to Haifa’s “Hamshbir”, which was then (long ago…) the biggest department store in the area. Little did I know that this institution, founded in 1916 during World War I … Continue reading →

Joseph is so flamboyant that it’s hard to see through. Growing up, as described in our Torah portion, Vayeshev, he aggravates everyone around him showing off with his dreams. He seems selfish and focused only on himself. He’s often used … Continue reading →

Every time I get to this week’s read, whether it’s because the Torah portion of Vayishlach or I’m dancing in a circle to the tune of this song, I come back to Jacob’s words: “….Now I’ve become two camps” (Genesis … Continue reading →

Rav Hirsch points out that three truth are shown to Yaakov during his famous ladder dream: First, that the ladder, connecting heaven and earth, is directional. It’s being “set up firmly” (mutzav) towards the earth and reaches towards then heaven. … Continue reading →

להחזיק חיות מחמד בבית בהחלט יכול להיות “מורכב” בלשון המעטה. מי שהכיר אותנו אי-אז, אולי זוכר שהיה לנו כמעט גן חיות בבית… בנוסף לחתולים, כלבים, דגי זהב וכדומה, יום אחד, חבר יקר הביא לנו כבשה, רק בת כמה ימים, כל … Continue reading →

Framed by the death and burial of Sarah and Abraham, is the meeting of Rebecca and Isaac, Rivkah & Yitzchak; a story that will culminate with the first time in the Torah a man will be described as “loving” a … Continue reading →

In his book, Resheet, about firsts in the Bible, author Meir Shalev, tells about a visit to a fishermen’s village in the Andaman Sea, between India and Thailand: “Unlike usual fishermen villages, this village wasn’t situated along the coast, but … Continue reading →

Abraham was already on route back to the Land, on a family journey that started some years earlier. Why did G-d have to tell him to go? Why does G-d have to intervene? And if G-d has to tell him … Continue reading →

I’m spending the week on an Encounter seminar, learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I don’t like the term conflict; it in itself shapes and frames our thoughts about the issue, but I don’t – yet? – have another. A group … Continue reading →

“אני מאמין באל, כמובן”, אני שומעת את המתראיין מסביר כשאני מזפזפת בין התחנות ברמזור, “אבל לא בכל מה שהתורה באה להגיד, על איך נברא העולם וכל זה, זה לא. אין לי צורך בזה כשיש לנו את המדע”. אני רוצה להתקשר … Continue reading →