The Unknown Miracle of Chanukah by Jeffrey R. Woolf

A quick survey of the types of lectures, shiurim, articles, and various other discussions of Hanukkah that flood the internet reveals that they focus on two, eminently predictable, motifs: the victory of the Hasmoneans over the Seleucid Greeks and and the miracle of the little cruse of oil, bearing the seal of the High Priest, that lasted eight days [...]

Halakha and Kabbalah: Rabbi Joseph Karo’s Shulchan Aruch and Magid Mesharim by Shlomo Brody

Amongst the great kabbalists and legalists produced in 16th century Safed, R. Yosef Karo clearly stands out as one of, if not the, most influential figure.  Though his legal compendium Bet Yosef and code Shulchan Aruch, Karo helped shape the course of halakha for the next five centuries.  Karo produced these works while the Zohar’s [...]

Parashat Miketz: Yosef’s Egyptian Makeover by Yaakov Bieler

The problem entailed in Pharoah’s making Yosef a ruler over the Egyptians
Taking an individual who comes from humble beginnings as well as from a despised national group and transforming him into someone who others will perceive as capable of leading and ruling, is the challenge confronting Pharoah vis-à-vis Yosef in Parashat Miketz.[2]
5) and they called [...]

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 [...]

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