Parashat VaYeishev: A Powerful Adolescent Commitment to Righteousness by Yaakov Bieler

The institution of reading the Haftara
Traditionally, the Haftora for Parshat VaYeshev is taken from chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Amos.[1] While the historical origin for reading the Haftarot as part of the Shabbat, Yom Tov and fast day services is not certain, the Avudharam speculates that this practice was begun during the [...]

Who Can Serve as Kashrut Supervisors? The Model of Kuthim by Aryeh Klapper

Whom can one trust to tell you that meat was slaughtered properly, and under what circumstances can you trust them?  For consumers nowadays, this question is generally far removed from the actual locations and personnel of slaughtering – we discuss which hechsher to trust, not which shochet.  The industrialization of kosher food production has further [...]

Parashat Va-Yishlach: Devora – A Messenger Ignored in Life, but Mourned in Death?

The wrenching events of Parashat VaYishlach
Each of the Parshiot of Beraishit focuses upon specific individuals and the fateful choices that they make which have ultimately contributed to the evolution of the Jewish people. Parashat VaYishlach is no different in this regard, and over the course of the Parasha (Beraishit 32:3-36:43), we empathize with Yaakov’s [...]

Parashat Va-Yetze: Holy Places as Resources for Leading Spiritual Lives by Yaakov Bieler

Yaakov believes that the location where he experienced his powerful dream was deliberately Chosen by God.
Yaakov, upon awaking from his prophetic dream at the outset of Parashat VaYetze (Beraishit 28:12-15), realizes HaShem’s Closeness to him, and as a result is beset by a powerful emotion.
Beraishit 28:16-17
…And he said, ‘Surely God is in this place, I [...]

Parashat Chaye Sara: A Young Girl Who Certainly Knows Her Mind by Yaakov Bieler

Finding a wife for Yitzchak.
A major portion of Parashat Chaye Sara is dedicated to Eliezer’s quest to find a suitable wife for Yitzchak from among Avraham’s relatives. [1] I am particularly struck by the role that Rivka herself plays in this story with respect to deciding whether she would like to accompany Eliezer back to [...]

Parashat Vayera: You Can Take Her Out of Sodom by Yaakov Bieler

Lot’s wife meets an unpleasant end.
Just prior to the destruction of the cities Sodom and Amora (Beraishit 19:24-25), Lot, Avraham’s nephew (see 11:31), and at least a portion of his family[1] manage to escape. However, one member of the group that originally leaves Sodom, never reaches safety, and instead, becomes a perpetual monument[2] to the [...]

Avraham: Proactive Monotheist by Yaakov Bieler

Universal directives in the early Parashiot of the Tora.
Sefer Beraishit, in addition to presenting the particularistic personal histories of the founders of the Jewish people, also contains several universalistic statements that indicate Divine Expectations for all of humankind.[1]

A commandment in Parashat Lech Lecha’s that can be understood as relating not only to Avraham and [...]

Parashat Noach: A Paradigm Shift in the Understanding of Human Nature by Yaakov Bieler

The Divine Commitment never again to bring global devestation via a flood.
Although Noach and his family are saved from the devastation of the Flood due to Noach’s virtuous attributes, as objectively attested to by the Tora[1] and then restated by HaShem Himself,[2] it would appear from Beraishit 8:21 that whether or not Noach’s descendents are [...]

Parashat Beraishit: The First Penitent? by Yaakov Bieler

Penitence in the Tora’s first Parasha.
Emerging from the intense period of repentance and atonement that began with the month of Elul, we should be particularly sensitive to apparent acts of “Teshuva”, as well as their noticeable absence, in the Parashiot with which the Tora begins.[1] With respect to Parashat Beraishit, on the one hand, Adam, [...]

Parashat Ve-Zot Ha-Beracha: The Torah’s Coda by Yaakov Bieler

The significance of the last verses of the Tora.
Since Parashat  VeZot HaBeracha is the final Parasha of the Tora, it contains the final words of the Tora, which would logically serve as the summation of not only the book of Devarim but all that comes before it as well. Here are the Tora’s final three [...]

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