Fire & Water
by“Just as fire and water cannot coexist in a single vessel, so too love for this world and love for the next cannot coexist…
Culture
Bo: Blood in the Basin
byThe very act of eating a lamb – an Egyptian deity – on the eve of the Exodus symbolizes the consumption & internalization of those Egyptian values that were worthy of being uplifted as part of the redemption.
Va’eira: Plagues
byThe plagues demonstrate the ethical gap between the nations of Israel & Egypt in the ancient world.
Sh’mot: The Importance of Names
byIn order for us to participate in bringing the redemption, it’s necessary to know in whose Name we are acting, what mission mankind is fulfilling, & in what style HaShem is guiding the world.
Vayeḥi: Chariot of the Divine Presence
byWhile it’s true that Yosef didn’t become a ‘fourth patriarch’ of the nation of Israel, it’s also true that he gained some patriarchal traits in that both of his two sons became full fledged Israelite tribes.
Vayigash: Returning Home
byYosef’s efforts to build Egypt didn’t advance the Hebrew mission. The world can only be fixed through a powerful Israeli nation in our land.
Mikeitz: Dreams
byAn understanding of ancient Egyptian society can help us appreciate why Pharaoh’s wise men & sorcerers couldn’t see the meaning of his dreams.
Vayeishev: The Individual & the Collective
byExcessive involvement with personal repentance & growth, without any concern for the broader collective & its needs, can often lead to confusion.
When a Nation Meets Its Destiny
byThe confrontation with Esav’s spiritual minister was a key point in Yaakov’s transformation into Israel.
Vayishlaḥ: The Danger of Gathering Sparks
byWhile gathering the holy sparks hidden within other cultures is one of Israel’s hidden missions in exile, we must be careful not to delay our return home.
Vayetzei: The Secret Order of Hebrew Maidservants
byThe Hebrew maidservants that tended to Israel’s matriarchs may have been part of a secret order meant to guard & educate them in serving HaShem.
Toldot: ‘This’ Versus ‘I’
byRivka wasn’t aware that she was carrying twins. Assuming there to only be one child in her womb, she had trouble understanding her experience.