Tag: Jacob

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

Birkat Yeladim: Blessing Children

Read more on how to preform Birkat Yeladim, the blessing over our children, and where the blessing and practice come from.

Reena Bromberg Gaber January 31, 2024 Blessings Erev Shabbat

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

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

On Regifting

We look at Leah's children's names and how its haftarah connection. Through this, we work on regifting God's gift to the rest of the world. ...

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 19, 2023 Parashat Behaalotcha Parashat Behaalotcha Haftarah

Flags at the Shabbat Table

In this week’s parashah we learn that the Israelites traveled through the wilderness like a troop of soldiers or a marching band.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva May 16, 2023 Parashat Bamidbar Parashat Bamidbar Dvar Torah

Humanity: The Incurable Illness

The haftarah for Bechukotai is from the book of Jeremiah and discusses two words, Eikev and Enosh, and what these words mean.

Bex Stern Rosenblatt, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva April 28, 2023 Parashat Bechukotai Parashat Bechukotai Haftarah

Encountering the Shema: 7 Questions

Rabbi Mordecai Miller reflects on the Shema with 7 questions: Throughout my life, I’ve tried to understand what this sentence really means.

Rabbi Mordecai Miller January 25, 2023 Every Day Liturgy

Bridegroom of Blood

Shemot describes the early years of Moshe’s life up to the pivotal moment when he is informed of his mission awaiting him in Egypt.

Ilana Kurshan, Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center — Conservative Yeshiva December 30, 2022 Parashat Shemot Parashat Shemot Dvar Torah

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

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

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

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

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

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