When Plagues Divide: Pedut and the Misreading of Jewish Difference
In the story of the plagues, there is a key turning point that is easy to miss. In the first three plagues, Israel and Egypt face the same outcomes. […]
“A New King Who Did Not Know Joseph”: Exodus 1 as the First Antisemitism
Exodus starts with a disturbingly familiar story. Before any plagues or miracles happen, and before Moshe even appears, the Torah depicts a powerful society that turns on a small […]
Mixed Blessings: What Jacob Really Gives His Sons
Jacob’s final words to his sons in Parashat Vayechi are called “blessings,” yet many of them sound painfully like rebuke, even curse. This tension encourages a deeper examination of […]
Three Visions, One Promise: Jacob’s Lifelong Conversation with God
In this week’s Parasha, Vayigash, we learn about Jacob’s final journey: to Egypt. This journey doesn’t start in Egypt but in the dark, sacred pause just before it. In Genesis […]
Miketz and Hanukkah: Hidden Light, Revealed Hope
Parashat Miketz almost always coincides with Hanukkah, and that “almost always” is itself a kind of commentary. It prompts the question: what happens when the Torah’s story of Yosef […]
Dear Jonah Platt
Dear Jonah Platt. Last night, I had a lot of trouble sleeping—and it’s all because of you! More on that in a moment. First, I want to sincerely thank you […]
Not in the Cave: Why Rachel Waits on the Way
I have always been puzzled by a story in this week’s Parasha, Vayishlach. In the Parasha, , we learn of the death of Rachel (Genesis 35:15-19). The text tells […]
God Was in This Place, and I Did Not Know
Genesis 28:16 may be one of the most mysterious verses in the Torah, because in a single startled sentence, Jacob discovers that his ordinary, anonymous campsite has in fact […]
Was Jacob Jealous of Esau?
Jacob’s story can be read as one of deep spiritual purpose, not of jealousy—as someone who stays true to his calling without wishing for Esau’s life or possessions. In […]
Acts of Kindness, Acts of Faith: Reflections on Chayei Sarah
Today’s d’var Torah is dedicated to the memory of my father, Henry Goldwasser, Zicron L’vracha on his fourth Yahrzeit, this Shabbat. This week’s Torah portion is Chayei Sarah (Genesis […]