The story in this week’s parasha is interesting in that Joseph is asked to interpret Pharaoh’s dream of the seven fat cows and the seven skinny cows.  Joseph says something interesting after explaining that the dream means seven good years of harvest and seven bad years of harvest.  He says: וְעַתָּה֙ יֵרֶ֣א פַרְעֹ֔ה אִ֖ישׁ נָב֣וֹן…

Pursuing What? In this week’s Torah portion, Joseph is certainly at his most immature.  He does not realize what is in store for him nor how he will see God working behind the scenes in his life.  All he has now are dreams and he will gladly share his ‘wisdom’ with whomever he wants, especially…

The Torah portion for this week is Vayeytze and it describes the famous incident of Jacob’s dream with the ladder ascending to heaven with angels coming up and down the ladder.  The set-up for the dream uses strange language, though, and it is instructive to see what it can teach us. The text says, “vayifgah…

  The Torah portion for this weeks begins with a famous story, albetit, rather unusual.  Abraham has just been circumcised at 90 years old (!) and is sitting by the opening of his tent when he sees three strangers either pass by or appear in front of him (the text is sort of ambiguous about…

FROM CHAD MCCLELLAND I wasn’t sure what to expect at the NFTY-GER New Member Kallah. Right off of the bus, new faces showered me with smiles. I met so many friends and can’t wait to see them again at the next event. I also got a chance to better know Salty members. Living in a…

Bereshit: In the Beginning One of the most puzzling passages that has given rise to much confusion occurs in the very beginning of the Torah.  It says, And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  Not difficult to understand, of course, but then, on the beginning of the fourth day we have…

Parashat Noach The portion about Noah and his famous Ark gives rise to some interesting questions.  For example, when God tells Noah that He is going to destroy the Earth with a flood, God says, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ “The end of all flesh has…

The command that God gives to Abram is interesting.  It says: לֶךְ־לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ֜ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֝ וּמִבֵּ֤ית אָבִ֞יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֝רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֜ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ: “Go to the land that I will show you.” Nachmanides notes that Abram was not told what the destination was supposed to be.  God was, in essence, telling him to follow his nose and, somehow, he would end up in…

Parashat Noach He Should Have Jumped out the Window The portion about Noah and his famous Ark gives rise to some interesting questions.  For example, when God tells Noah that He is going to destroy the Earth with a flood, God says, וַיֹּ֙אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֜ים לְנֹ֗חַ קֵ֤ץ כָּל־בָּשָׂר֙ בָּ֣א לְפָנַ֔י כִּֽי־מָלְאָ֥ה הָאָ֛רֶץ חָמָ֖ס מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וְהִנְנִ֥י מַשְׁחִיתָ֖ם…

Mechina 2012 was simply the beginning to an incredible summer of learning. During Mechina, I was given the opportunity to learn from other regions as well as network. I loved meaning individuals from other regions of North America, especially those with similar positions to myself. In addition, I built friendships and cannot wait to reunite…