Category Archives: Uncategorized

Not long ago, I celebrated my grandmother’s 133rd birthday… my grandmother was an amazing woman. She was like that when I was little and she’s getting better ever since…. When she was 80 years old, having lived in Israel already … Continue reading →

Olive picking season is coming to its end and we’re reaching the Torah portion of Vayechi where we read Jacob’s blessing to his sons, specifically here – Asher (Genesis 49:20). I read it, and 3000+ years, disappear: עונת מסיק הזיתים … Continue reading →

One of the best things about living in Israel is that you can get into your car, turn on the radio and hear Torah, drashot, daf yomi. On Thursday morning, it was Rabbi Shneor Shapira (I think that was his … Continue reading →

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 →