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 …

Read More »

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, …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

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 …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading Vayyera’ November 8, 2025

“Now I know”—”But Why Didn’t You Know Before?”   Nowadays, this week’s Torah reading justly troubles a great many readers. It contains the famous account of God’s command to Abraham to kill his own son, sacrificing him like some animal …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Bereshit, October 18, 2025

Weekly Torah Reading, Bereshit, October 18, 2025 Don’t Touch That Tree!   Who was responsible for what happened to humanity in the garden of Eden, Adam or Eve?   On the face of things, it was mostly Eve’s fault. After …

Read More »

      A Jewish New Year’s Card                                        Summery exaltation or summary execution? The more-than-august judgments have been handed down in …

Read More »