In this week's parsha the narrative of the Exodus from Egypt reaches one of its most climactic moments. Pharaoh finally succumbs to the pressures of the plagues and to the demands of Moshe and of the God of Israel. The last three plagues that are discussed in detail in this week's parsha are those of the locusts, darkness and the slaying of the firstborn. These plagues represent not only... READ MORE →
The Lord, so to speak, bemoans to Moshe the lack of faith exhibited by him and the Jewish people during the moments of crisis in their encounter with Pharaoh and their Egyptian taskmasters. God points out that the previous generations of the founders of the Jewish people never wavered in their faith and belief that God's covenant would be fulfilled, no matter how harsh the circumstances of their... READ MORE →
הקב"ה מתאונן, כביכול, בפני משה על חוסר האמונה שלו ושל בני ישראל ברגעים של משבר במפגשים שלהם עם פרעה ועם המצרים שמשעבדים אותם. הקב"ה מציין שלאבות, לדורות הקודמים של בני ישראל, לא היה ולו רגע אחד של היסוס או ספק באמונה... READ MORE →
The Torah does not describe for us in any form whatsoever as to what happened to the family of Yaakov - who are now the people of Israel, and suddenly very numerous and at one time very influential and comfortable in Egyptian society - in the years between the death of Yosef and the enslavement of the Jews many decades later. The Torah is not here to give us a narrative of interesting... READ MORE →
התורה לא מתארת לנו בשום צורה מה קרה לבני ישראל - למשפחתו של יעקב שחיה חיים נוחים ורבי השפעה במצרים והלכה והתרבתה - בשנים שחלפו ממות יוסף ועד שהיא מספרת לנו על השעבוד שלהם עשרות שנים אחר-כך. התורה לא באה לספר לנו סיפור או... READ MORE →
Our father Yaakov lived for seventeen years in the Goshen area of the land of Egypt. These were undoubtedly the most peaceful, serene and happiest years of his long and troubled life. He is reunited with his beloved son Yosef who has risen to power and greatness, albeit in a strange land. No Eisav, no Lavan, no Shechem, no Canaanite neighbors are present to disturb his peace and security. And,... READ MORE →
יעקב אבינו חי 17 שנים בארץ גושן שבמצרים. אין ספק שאלה היו השנים הכי שלוות ומאושרות בחייו מלאי התהפוכות. הוא התאחד שוב עם יוסף, בנו האהוב, שעלה לשלטון ולגדולה, על אף היותו נוכרי בארץ. לא היו בחייו עשיו, לבן, שכם או שכנים... READ MORE →
Yehuda finally confronts Yosef and in his frustration at the way events have developed, he speaks to the ruler of Egypt with direct and even harsh words. But what is most amazing in the whole Torah narrative regarding the brothers and Yosef is that not for a moment do the brothers realize that the Egyptian ruler, who has so unfairly tormented them, is in fact Yosef, their brother. The... READ MORE →
All of the people involved in the human drama described for us in this week’s Torah reading are haunted by their past actions, behavior and attitudes. Pharaoh is disturbed by his dreams of an empire where the strong overwhelm the weak and suddenly this past dream turns into a nightmare of the weak devouring the strong. Pharaoh’s butler thought that he had placed his past indiscretions... READ MORE →
The Torah parsha begins with the simple narrative statement that Yaakov settled and “dwelled in the land of the sojourn of his forefathers, the Land of Canaan.” That last clause in that sentence – the Land of Canaan – seems to be superfluous. We are already well aware from the previous parshiyot of Bereshith that Avraham and Yitzchak dwelt in the Land of Canaan. Since every word and... READ MORE →
