Setting boundaries. A vital concept in relationships whether between individuals or groups. And near the end of this week’s parsha, the issue of boundaries comes up. Here Jacob lifts a large boulder (the issue of stones is a theme in Jacob’s life – the Hebrew letters for stone are a combination of father and children…
Who are we? Our choice? Or our heritage? Here Isaac and Rivkah have twins – Jacob and Esau, who was born red skinned and hairy. Two nations emerge from them, striving for different goals. One will follow the ethics of Torah and the other will pursue power at any expense. And they both will produce…
Can we challenge God? Here, Abraham warned by angels, who he took for strangers in need of food and comfort, who later said that they would destroy the city of Sodom whose inhabitants were cruel to outsiders enslaving them and physically and sexually attacking them. But Abraham challenged God saying if there were even as few…
Who protects us? Abraham, the first advocate of all monotheism was tested by God. And one of his tests was, when he was confronted by Nimrod, who had the skin of the snake from the garden of Eden, and wielded authoritarian deceitful power demanded that Abraham worship idols and even worship fire and ,when Abraham…
What do we value? The end of this parsha is about the tower of Babel. Under a totalitarian rule people constructed this giant structure to challenge even God, rising it into the clouds (a thanks to the painter Breugel whose masterpiece I have adopted). And the subservient people were so obsessed with this project, that according to Midrash, they valued the…
(I had planned a less disturbing image but after the horror of October 7, 2023 this emerged) The beginnings with possibilities of joy and pain as well. We lived in an Eden and were expelled for foolish desires, kept out by an angel with a fiery sword and what happens next is our children killing each…
(I had planned a less disturbing image but after the horror of October 7, 2023 this emerged) The beginnings with possibilities of joy and pain as well. We lived in an Eden and were expelled for foolish desires, kept out by an angel with a fiery sword and what happens next is our children killing each…