How do we confront fear? Here the Hebrews finally leaving 210 years of slavery have arrived at the churning Yam Suf – Red Sea – and now what? In the desert here comes the infuriated Pharaoh with his chariots bound to recapture the Hebrews. Moses prays to Hashem for guidance and one of the protective clouds following the…
What does it take for us to see the truth? Here in this parsha, the second to last plague confronts this issue. The plague was darkness where Pharaoh and the Egyptians literally couldn’t see what was in front of them. But the Midrash reports that they could see the Hebrews who, even when enslaved, were…
What does it take to get the message? This parsha begins the wonders that Hashem sent to the autocrat Pharaoh that he should let the Hebrews free. The Midrash talks about that first plague of blood and that it wasn’t just in the Nile but is oozed from the walls and pillars of Pharaoh’s palace. It even…
What does it take to get the message? This parsha begins the wonders that Hashem sent to the autocrat Pharaoh that he should let the Hebrews free. The Midrash talks about that first plague of blood and that it wasn’t just in the Nile but is oozed from the walls and pillars of Pharaoh’s palace. Would he…
How to eliminate evil? In this Midrash, violence was an answer. Esau, cruelly wanting to prevent the burial of his brother Jacob in the cave of Machpaila, where their ancestors were interred, has his head lopped off by Chushim, the son of Dan. The bleeding severed bloviating head of Esau landed at Jacob’s feet. Chushim, holding his…
How to deal with sadness and shock? Music soothes the soul. For 22 years Jacob mourned what he believed was the death of his son Joseph whose tunic was given to Jacob covered in blood to confirm Joseph’s death. But it was not true. And when his other sons learned this, they were concerned as to how to…
Who is innocent? The Midrash tells this story about Joseph’s brothers who had sold him into slavery and years later had come to Egypt to get food during the times of the famine that Joseph had predicted. That prediction freed Joseph from prison and raised him to be a viceroy to the Pharaoh, unbeknownst to his…
How do we make significant decisions? Do we get unexpected help? In this week’s parsha, there is a strange interlude away from the story of Joseph to a story about his older brother Judah whose daughter-in-law Tamar, inspired by the vision that she would be the progenitor of King David and even the Moshiach, disguised herself as a…
What to do when confronting a potential enemy? Preparation! In this week’s parsha Jacob is about to encounter his brother Esau after two decades of separation and death threats from him. So, Jacob’s threefold plan – first prayer – acknowledging THAT that truly determines our present and future, asking that Hashem help him through difficulties;…