Let There Be Light
Parshas Bereishis 5784

This week has been an overwhelming week for the Jewish people. From the devastation and anguish of witnessing the most horrific attack on our people since the Holocaust, to seeing so many around the world celebrate the pain of our…

Continue ReadingLet There Be Light
Parshas Bereishis 5784

Parshat Bereshit 5784

Parshat Bereshit תשפ"ד Last Shabbat– (Shemini Atzeret morning), the world woke up to the news that Israel was under a deadly attack. Hamas staged a major uprising. Entering Israel from Gaza, they murdered, in cold blood, nearly 1,000 soldiers, policemen,…

Continue ReadingParshat Bereshit 5784

The Library of You 
Parshat Vayechi 5783

I used to think that the entire California was one big meeting ground for urbane, progressive sophisticates, the type that ate braised youngberry frites, used venti as a vocabulary word, or listened to world fusion music while drinking organic wheatgrass martinis. While…

Continue ReadingThe Library of You 
Parshat Vayechi 5783

Do you think you are better than others? 
Parshat Vayigash 5783

Sandra never knew freedom. She was born in captivity into a group of people that treated her like an animal, keeping her in a cage, and feeding her not much more than bottles of milk and vegetable scraps. Being caged…

Continue ReadingDo you think you are better than others? 
Parshat Vayigash 5783

Parshat Vayigash 5783

Vayigash תשפג             After sitting in prison for 12 years, Yosef was suddenly called up to interpret Pharaoh’s two disturbing dreams. Yosef accurately interpreted the dreams, which warned Pharaoh of an impending 7-year famine that would wipe out all life in Egypt…

Continue ReadingParshat Vayigash 5783

The Court of Public Opinion 
Parshat Vayeshev 5783

Hello Everybody, Due to a series of unfortunate events, I have ended up in court far too many times in my life. Luckily those unfortunate events were mostly speeding or failure to obey a traffic device as opposed to homicide,…

Continue ReadingThe Court of Public Opinion 
Parshat Vayeshev 5783

Parshat Vayeshev 5783

Vayeshev תשפ"ג             The second verse in this week’s parsha (Genesis 37:2) starts out telling us about Yaakov’s descendants, but then focuses only on Yosef.  (ב) אֵלֶּה תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף 2) These are the chronicles of Yaakov, Yosef …             The Torah next informs us…

Continue ReadingParshat Vayeshev 5783