Angel injuring Jacob’s Thigh- When the angel fought against Jacob, why specifically did he injure him in his thigh? Is there a special significance to it? More »
Brothers' Reunion- I'm within a few weeks of turning 49. Having been raised in a non-observant Jewish environment, I only began my Jewish education a year ago and am planning to have my bar mitzvah 37 years late. What is the applicable… More »
Jacob Buys the Birthright for Soup- I’m studying the story of Jacob and Esau and I am so bothered by the simple storyline. Imagine the scenario. Two brothers, one is sitting at home studying and the other returns from an exhausting day at work. He asks… More »
Jacob - Disciplining With Love- I have three kids and when they misbehave I want to discipline them. But sometimes I feel like that would be harming their self-esteem. What does the Torah say about disciplining with love? More »
Jacob, Esau & the Purpose of Life- I seem to have two voices pulling at me: One that says, “Be responsible; think long-term,” and the other that says, “Live it up now.” Each voice seems to have a good argument. What do you say? More »
Jacob Steals the Blessings- I have a coworker who can’t accept how Jacob could have stolen Esau’s blessings from his father Isaac. How could he have been so dishonest as to trick his father? And further, since the blessings were given under false premises,… More »
Jacob’s Embalmment- How was Joseph allowed to embalm his father Jacob? Is that permitted according to Jewish law? More »
Jacob’s Possessions and Having it All- When Jacob first meets Esau after having spent years in Haran, he gives him a large gift of animals. At first Esau refuses the gift, but then Jacob convinces him to take it. I know there is a nice lesson… More »
Joseph Buys the Egyptians and Their Land- I was studying Genesis 47 and I was terribly bothered by the story. Because of the famine, the Egyptians had no food. It was a national emergency. Joseph had spent years storing up grain in anticipation of this. I would… More »
Killing Shechem- One story in the Bible has always intrigued me. After the prince of Shechem raped Jacob's daughter Dina, Jacob's sons made a deal to have them all the people of Shechem circumcised. Next thing you know, Simeon and Levi went… More »
The Term "Jew"- Our nation was historically called Israelites or Hebrews. I am wondering why always you refer to the Israelite or the Hebrew Nation as "Jew" when only after the captivity of 722 BCE that the people of the Tribe of Judah… More »
Why Didn’t Joseph Contact His Family?- I was thinking about the story of Joseph in the Torah, and a thought came to me. Why didn't Joseph contact his father Jacob as soon as he became the viceroy of Egypt? Only after the brothers came did he… More »
Raise a Glass to Freedom
