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The Grand Illusion Parashat Vayeishev (Genesis 37:1-40:23) Everyone enjoys a good magician. They appear to do what seems completely impossible. Although they can entertain people for hours on end, the craft of a magician is based on illusion and misdirection. They draw our attention to one thing in order to distract us from another. If they want us to watch what one hand is doing, then the other hand is doing the real “magic.” If they point at an object, it’s generally misdirection. But we don’t mind this. In fact, we pay money to be misguided and have our point of view misled. read more »	A New Identity Parashat Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4[3]-36:43) This week’s parashah begins with Jacob preparing to head back home to the land of Canaan after some twenty long years of working for his father-in-law, Laban. On the journey home, he is attacked by a mysterious figure during the wee hours of the night. As we know, Jacob spends the night wrestling with what most people know as an angelic being. Just before dawn, the stranger asks Jacob’s name. After he responds, the stranger replies, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29[28]). From that point, there is a noticeable shift in Jacob. He begins a streak of name-calling. Let me explain. read more »
Stairway To Heaven Parashat Vayeitze (Genesis 28:10-32:3[2]) This week’s Torah portion begins with one of the most mysterious and little-understood events recorded in the Torah. When Jacob spent the night in what he later calls Beit-El, he had a curious dream charged with spiritual import: And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! (Genesis 28:11–12) In Jacob’s dream, he saw a ladder stretching from heaven to earth, and angels were ascending and descending on it. Although he was puzzled by this imagery, Jacob realized that it held spiritual significance and determined that he had come to a place of holiness: read more »	The Ancient Paths Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9) Parashat Toldot gives us the backstory of the conflict between Jacob and Esau. It tells of their birth in the account of Jacob coming out with one hand holding onto Esau’s heel, Esau selling his birthright, and Jacob receiving the blessing of the firstborn from Isaac (albeit in an underhanded manner). It also gives us some interesting information about Isaac and his life. When he settled in Gerar, he needed a source of water. Rather than digging new wells, he unearthed the wells his father had dug: And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. (Genesis 26:18) read more »
Strangers & Aliens Parashat Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18) Although Chayei Sarah means “the life of Sarah,” this parashah actually begins with her dying at one hundred and twenty-seven years old. Once we are given this information, the Torah recounts the process by which her husband, Abraham, procured a burial location for her. It details the dialogue between Abraham and the local Canaanites, the location of the burial site, the name of the seller, the selling price, and the transaction details. In this dialogue between Abraham and Ephron the Hittite (the seller), Abraham petitioned with the local population by saying, “I am a sojourner and foreigner among you” (Genesis 23:4). Why does Abraham say this, and what is the significance? Let’s explore its implications. read more »	5 Books That Changed My Life I’m about to introduce you to five books that have changed my life and hopefully will change yours as well. These books are some of the very first books I ever read that helped me discover not only the Jewishness of Jesus and the New Testament, but also why knowing about this is important. Stick around and I’ll share these five resources with you, along with links to where you can pick up copies for yourself. read more »

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