The Power of the Parsha: Vayechi
Thursday Lunch and Learn | Rabbi Leiby Burnham
Parshat Vayechi 5783
Parshat Vayechi תשפ"ג This week’s portion is the portion of blessings. In it, our forefather Yaakov bestowed blessings upon Yosef’s two sons, Ephriam and Menashe, and on all of his own sons, the 12 Tribes of Israel. It is striking how…
The Power of the Parsha: Vayigash
Thursday Lunch and Learn | Rabbi Leiby Burnham
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…
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…
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,…
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…
The Five Dollar Millionaire
Parshat Vayishlach 5783
He cut a dashing figure when he entered any room, a tall regal Englishman dressed in impeccably tailored thousand dollar Chester Barrie suits worn over smart Turnbull & Asser shirts and ties, a slight salt and pepper beard barely hiding…
Power of the Parsha: Vayigash
Thursday Lunch and Learn | Rabbi Leiby Burnham
Parshat Vayishlach 5783
Parshat Vayishlach תשפ"ג The Ramban prefaces his commentary to the second book of the Torah, Shemot, by writing. השלים הכתוב ספר בראשית שהוא ספר היצירה בחדוש העולם ויצירת כל נוצר, ובמקרי האבות כולם שהם כעין יצירה לזרעם, מפני שכל מקריהם ציורי דברים לרמוז…