Weekly Torah Reading, Vayḥi, January 3, 2026
The Future Scepter At the end of his life, Jacob gathered his sons together in order to give each of them his fatherly blessing. But in fact, his three oldest sons didn’t end up being blessed at all; what …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyiggash, December 27, 2025
Convincing Proof When Jacob’s sons returned to Canaan to tell their father the good news—that his long-lost son Joseph was still alive—at first he didn’t believe them. Why should he? If what they were saying now was true, then …
Weekly Torah Reading, Mikketz, December 20, 2025
To Fear God—or the Lord? Joseph’s abilities as a dream interpreter eventually landed him a job as a high Egyptian official in charge of grain supplies. Meanwhile his family in Canaan had begun to feel the effects of the …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyeshev, December 13, 2025
His Father’s Face In this week’s reading, it is said that Jacob “loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age” (Gen 37:3). This sounds like a mistake: if the phrase …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyishlaḥ, December 6, 2025
Ten Percent On the eve of his return to the land of Canaan, Jacob learned that his brother Esau, who had previously vowed to kill him, was now on his way to meet him—accompanied by 400 men! Naturally, …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyetze, November 29, 2025
Tough Times in Zion Jacob left Beer-sheba bound for Haran. Stopping for the night at a certain place, he fell asleep and had a strange dream. “And behold, a ladder was set in the ground, and its top …
Weekly Torah Reading, Toledot, November 22, 2025
Lo, or else Lo In this week’s Torah reading, Isaac is now dwelling in Beer Sheba, and the Philistine king, Abimelech, comes with his aides to meet him. Isaac and Abimelech have had rather frosty relations, so as soon …
Weekly Torah Reading, Ḥayyei Sarah, November 15, 2025
Laban and Nephew In this week’s portion, Abraham sends his (unnamed) servant to the city of Nahor to find a bride for his son Isaac. When the servant arrives, we are introduced to two important figures: Rebekah—who, as Isaac’s …