Parsha Vayigash: A Torah of Not Knowing

The parsha (Torah portion) we read this shabbat is called Vayigash and means, “And he approached,” because our parsha starts with Yehuda (Judah) approaching Yoseph. If you recall from the previous week, Yehuda had promised to safely return Benyamin to Yaakov (Jacob) and then Yoseph’s chalice was found in Benyamin’s bag. The parsha ended with Yoseph telling the brothers that Benyamin was staying as a slave, while the rest of them were free to go. This week’s parsha starts with … Continue reading

Parsha R’ay: Enough Torah

It is time to wake you. Take a stretch.  I have some parsha (Torah weekly portion) thoughts to share.  This shabbat we read from the parsha R’ay which is the command form of the verb to see.  It is the first word in our parsha, which begins by saying, “See – I am giving before you today a blessing and a curse.”  The blessing is to listen to all of haShem’s (god’s) mitzvot (commandments/joinings), and the curse is if you … Continue reading