Vayeḥi: Demystifying the Tribes of Israel
What are the individual contributions of each Hebrew tribe to Israel’s national collective?
Vayigash: Recognizing Yosef
Did Yosef use the famine to bring his family down to Egypt in hopes of implementing an alternative approach to the Hebrew mission in the Diaspora?
Mikeitz: Egypt’s Hebrew Viceroy
Did Yosef seek to transform Egypt into a civilization built on Hebrew values that would repair the world?
Vayeishev: Yosef & Yehuda
As internal conflict over the Hebrew clan’s direction leads to tragic consequences for Yosef and Yehuda, each must discover his own messianic potential.
Vayishlaḥ: Finally Becoming Israel
As Yaakov returns back home to his land, he and his family are met with new challenges that ultimately transform them into the nation of Israel.
Vayetzei: Yaakov’s Struggle to Become Israel
Before becoming Israel, Yaakov had to first spend several years in exile learning to be more like Esav.
Toldot: The Prophetic Destiny of Rivka’s Twins
How do the character traits of Esav and Yaakov find expression in the rival civilizations they produced?
Ḥayei Sarah: Perfection of the Living Sacrifice
Following her death, Sarah’s powerful legacy continued to influence Avraham and play a major role in their family’s development into a nation.
Vayeira: Sarah’s Role in the Hebrew Mission
What challenges was our matriarch Sarah forced to overcome in order to fully play her part in establishing the Hebrew nation with Avraham?
Lekh Lekha: From Avram to Avraham
How the leader of a universal spiritual movement learned to reorient himself to the understanding that his goals for humanity could only be achieved through the vehicle of a nation in a specific land.
Noaḥ: The Mystery of the Flood
Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator’s decision to destroy humankind? Could there be more to this story?
On Jews & Whiteness
Due to differing definitions of ‘whiteness’ in different communities, being called white can be highly offensive for Jews while claiming Jews aren’t white can be exasperating for Black Americans.