Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

With the opening of Sefer Sh'mot, the Book of Exodus, the Torah moves from cosmic origins to the role of God in salvation and history. As the Israelites find themselves in a descending spiral of servitude and suffering, their call to God unleashes the ultimate conflict, between the very wellsprings of life and liberation (that we recognize as God) and the embodiment of tyranny and pointlessness epitomized by Pharaoh. Read more...

Why is it that so many conflicts divide humanity? Shouldn't we all be able to recognize our common identity as people, regardless of our race, nationality, gender or religion? Why is it that our labels, which ought to represent our most beautiful ideals, so often seem to create conflicts and divisions where none previously existed? Read more...

Pharaoh has endured a night of terrible dreams. To make matters worse, neither he nor any of his ministers understood what the dreams were about. The only person able to interpret those dreams is a Hebrew prisoner in an Egyptian jail. That person is Joseph. After hearing the dreams described, Joseph announced that Egypt will enjoy seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of universal famine. In advance, Joseph argues that Pharaoh should appoint someone "navon ve-hakham," discerning and sage, who will store enough food to ensure the survival of the population. Read more...

In the development of Joseph's character and the events of his life, the Torah portrays a bittersweet lesson about the loneliness of pride. On the surface, there is no reason for Joseph to be lonely. He is, after all, the favorite child of his father, surrounded by 11 brothers, in the midst of a bustling and energetic family. Joseph has the potential to fill his life with friendship, family and love. Yet his need to be preeminent, his need to belittle the gifts and experiences of this family in order to glorify his own talents, isolate him from his own kin. Read more...

Each of us, through the power of imagination, retains the ability to transform the world. Cultivating our creative powers--learning to imagine as a community and to channel our social inventiveness towards visions of justice and of holiness--is one of the central functions of Judaism. Our religion trains us to visualize a better world, in which Jews are more passionate and observant, in which all people are kinder and more cooperative. Judaism nurtures that creativity as a source of inspiration and guides us--through mitzvot--toward translating that vision into a living reality. Read more...