Category: Sefer Bereshit / Book of Genesis

The Rabbis’ Boogeyman: Learning About Forgiveness

What can we learn about forgiveness from the Rabbis' boogeyman? Esau is that boogeyman but we can learn from his relationship with Jacob.

Alex Friedman February 5, 2024 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Dvar Torah

Jacob and Esav: The Original Yom Sport

The story of Jacob and Esav's relationship is a paradigm of biblical “Color War” and what really winning actually means.

Emily Kaiman December 8, 2023 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Dvar Torah

Dinah: An Unexpected Trans Story

Based on rabbinic midrash from tractate Berakhot, Dinah can be read either as a trans woman or, as this piece argues, a closeted trans man.

Saffron Mala Kaplan December 8, 2023 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Dvar Torah

Finding Quiet Solace in a Stormy World

Caleb Brommer, RS '24, speaks on finding quiet solace in a stormy world, for his JTS senior sermon, on Parashat Vayishlach.

Caleb Brommer November 30, 2023 JTS Senior Sermon Learning

How do you Solve a Problem Like Esav?

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover teaches: Life is not a zero-sum and one of the keys is to recognize that people grow and change.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover November 17, 2023 Parashat Toldot Parashat Toldot Dvar Torah

The Right Time for Atheism

The story of Avraham is full of tragedy but also the great gift of speaking truth to power and knowing when not to believe.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover November 2, 2023 Parashat Vayera Parashat Vayera Dvar Torah

In the Name of All of Israel

Building on ideas of Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev and Maimonides - Avraham showed us a path to repair even in the darkest of times.

Rabbi Mordechai Rackover October 26, 2023 Parashat Lech Lecha Parashat Lech Lecha Dvar Torah

The Torah of the Summer Barbecue

Summer barbecues are great for relaxation and rejuvenation, and an opportunity to extend and receive hospitality like Abraham and Sarah.

Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman June 22, 2023 Food Hospitality

On Loss

This week's haftarah juxtaposes King David preparing for his own death with both Jacob and Joseph's preparations for their own deaths.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 27, 2022 Parashat Vayechi Parashat Vayechi Haftarah

Study Guide: My Wife or Your Mother?

In this week’s parashah, Jacob asks Joseph to swear to bury him not in Egypt but rather lay him to rest with his ancestors.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 27, 2022 Parashat Vayechi Parashat Vayechi Study Guide

True Lovingkindness

Parashat Vayechi chronicles the deaths of Jacob and his son, Joseph, both of whom provide explicit instructions regarding their burials.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 27, 2022 Parashat Vayechi Parashat Vayechi Dvar Torah

Reversals

Parashat Vayigash continues a long narrative of sibling relationships. The reconciliation focused on here, reflects in this week's haftarah.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 26, 2022 Parashat Vayigash Parashat Vayigash Haftarah

Study Guide: A Good Long Cry

Joseph, after revealing his identity to his brothers, invites the family to Egypt. They share an emotional reunion and a good long cry.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 26, 2022 Parashat Vayigash Parashat Vayigash Study Guide

Laden Wagons

In parashat Vayigash the patriarch Jacob learns the truth about his son Joseph, in realizing Joseph's laden wagons.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 26, 2022 Parashat Vayigash Parashat Vayigash Dvar Torah

Golden Bowls and Grand Concepts

In making sense of details we begin to construct the grander concept and we realize we are in the presence of something bigger.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Miketz Parashat Miketz Haftarah

Study Guide: The Perfect Gift

The brothers need more food but were told not to return without their youngest brother, whom their father refuses to part with.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Miketz Parashat Miketz Study Guide

Glimmers of an Incandescent Light

In parashat Miketz, Jacob sends his sons to Egypt, but unbeknownst to his sons, the ruler dispersing rations is their younger brother, Joseph.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Miketz Parashat Miketz Dvar Torah

Reading Critically

Many of our sacred texts are deeply unsettling. Our ancestors are deeply flawed people and their stories do not present easy takeaways.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Vayeshev Parashat Vayeshev Haftarah

Study Guide: It’s All in The Telling

Study guide for Parashat Vayeshev, following the story surrounding Joseph and his interaction with his master's wife.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Vayeshev Parashat Vayeshev Study Guide

From Despair to Repair

In this week’s parashah, Judah's daughter-in-law Tamar tricks him into sleeping with her after she is not able to conceive with his sons.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 11, 2022 Parashat Vayeshev Parashat Vayeshev Dvar Torah

Compassionate Fantasies

In the haftarah for Vayishlach, from the Book of Obadiah, we read the story of God rebuking the nation of Edom, rather than Israel.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 5, 2022 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Haftarah

Study Guide: A Dotted Kiss

A study guide for Parashat Vayishlach, focused on the midrashim surrounding the parashah and the reunification of Jacob and Esau.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 5, 2022 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Study Guide

The Struggles That Shape Us

On the eve of Jacob’s meeting with his brother Esau, he finds himself wrestling with a divine figure, winning, and receiving a new name.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 5, 2022 Parashat Vayishlach Parashat Vayishlach Dvar Torah

Mostly Dead is Slightly Alive

As we read the stories of Jacob, it is worthwhile to pay attention to the interplay between hope and God as the redeemer us from ...

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 27, 2022 Parashat Vayetzei Parashat Vayetzei Haftarah

Study Guide: Dual Loyalty

In the situation that revolves around Rachel and Leah's respective marriages to Jacob, a question of loyalty to family is asked.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 27, 2022 Parashat Vayetzei Parashat Vayetzei Study Guide

A Spiritual Exercise

After leaving his father's home, Jacob dreams of God and experiences prayer for the first time. Learn about living in dialogue with God.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 27, 2022 Parashat Vayetzei Parashat Vayetzei Dvar Torah

Pushback

In the haftarah for Parashat Toldot, the Book of Malachi describes a dialogue of pushback between God and the people of Israel.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 17, 2022 Parashat Toldot Parashat Toldot Haftarah

Study Guide: Let’s Eat to That!

Discuss commentary on Jacob and Esau's interaction in Toldot. This study guide discusses the transaction of Esau's birth right.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 17, 2022 Parashat Toldot Parashat Toldot Study Guide

The Blinding of Isaac: A Blessing in Disguise

In Toldot, Isaac, now the family patriarch, bestows the blessing of the firstborn on Jacob instead of Esau, when Jacob tricks him.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 16, 2022 Parashat Toldot Parashat Toldot Dvar Torah

Modifying Memories

With memories ever-changing, how do we trust what we remember and what is shared with us? How do we trust the memories of Torah characters?

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 13, 2022 Parashat Chayei Sarah Haftarah Sefer Bereshit / Book of Genesis

Study Guide: Inheritance or Gift?

Study guide: Why does Abraham focus so much on Isaac? What about Abraham's other children and should they receive inheritance as well?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 13, 2022 Parashat Chayei Sarah Parashat Chayei Sarah Study Guide

A Crown of Glory

Parashat Chayei Sarah describes the final years of Abraham’s life, following the death of his wife Sarah and culminating in Abraham’s own death.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 13, 2022 Parashat Chayei Sarah Parashat Chayei Sarah Dvar Torah

Passing it on

In Vayera's haftarah, we read the story of Elisha and a big deal woman in Shunem reflecting three different models of hospitality.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 4, 2022 Parashat Vayera Parashat Vayera Haftarah

Study Guide: A Laugh That Hurts in The Belly

Study Guide: What really happened when the angels visited Abraham and Sarah? Why did Sarah laugh when she heard what they had to say?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 4, 2022 Parashat Vayera Parashat Vayera Study Guide

When Mercy Seasons Justice

Parashat Vayera is about a tense and dramatic conversation between God and Abraham about the destruction of Sodom.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva November 4, 2022 Parashat Vayera Parashat Vayera Dvar Torah

To “Steelman” Idolatry

In Lech Lecha's haftarah, we are given a vision of what our lives might have been, if only they’d been a little different.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 31, 2022 Parashat Lech Lecha Parashat Lech Lecha Haftarah

Study Guide: Right or Left? East Is Not an Option

Study Guide: Unpacking the disagreement between Avram and Lot when they had to split the land they were on.

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 31, 2022 Parashat Lech Lecha Parashat Lech Lecha Study Guide

Men Count the Stars, Women are From Venus

Parashat Lech Lecha depicts an acute marital crisis between Abraham and Sarah that occurs at a particularly difficult moment in their lives.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 31, 2022 Parashat Lech Lecha Parashat Lech Lecha Dvar Torah

Understanding the Flood

In the wake of the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple, God explains that God has not in fact abandoned Zion.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 24, 2022 Parashat Noach Parashat Noach Haftarah

Study Guide: Is it Safer to Attack God?

Study Guide: What kind of society created the Tower of Babel? Would we want to live in that society? What did Rashi say?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 24, 2022 Parashat Noach Parashat Noach Study Guide

A Trail of Crumpled Papers on the Floor

We learn in Parashat Noach: God comes to appreciate, the problem was not creating human beings, but having unrealistic expectations of them.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 24, 2022 Parashat Noach Parashat Noach Dvar Torah

Creation Continued

If creation was ongoing but no one observed it, did it actually still happen? Did creation cease when God disappeared?

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 19, 2022 Parashat Bereshit Parashat Bereshit Haftarah

Study Guide bereshit a little less is a lot more

Study Guide: A Little Less is A Lot More

Study Guide: In the context of Creation, what is the connection between blessing, deficiency, and Shabbat?

Vered Hollander-Goldfarb, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 16, 2022 Parashat Bereshit Parashat Bereshit Study Guide

The Moon is Always Female

In the beginning, according to God’s original plan, the Sun and the Moon were two who ruled alongside one another. What happened?

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva October 16, 2022 Parashat Bereshit Parashat Bereshit Dvar Torah

Category: Sefer Bereshit / Book of Genesis

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