Parashat Shemot 5785
January 17, 2025
Rabbi Marge Wise (AJR '21)
Parashat Shemot, is the first parashah in the book of Exodus, whose name is also Shemot, which literally means names. In this parashah we read of the birth of Moses. Not taking anything away from Moses – or from his father, whom we’ll get to in a moment – I would like us to keep in mind that Moses’ birth, and his very survival, were made possible by a few brave and fearless women!!
Parashat Vayehi 5785
January 6, 2025
With this portion, Jacob comes to end of his life’s journey, and makes preparations for his family. He blesses and adopts Joseph’s sons, Ephriam and Menasseh. He calls his sons together and offers words of blessing – and some less than blessing. He makes Joseph promise that after his death, Joseph will bury him in the family cave at Makhpelah in Canaan. It seems straightforward. The rabbis read more into Jacob’s calling his sons together, based on Genesis 49:2: הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; Hearken to Israel, your father… You might notice, that the word “V’Shimu” is repeated twice. And you might also realize that this word – whose root letters are Shin-Mem-Ayin – is closely connected to the word “Shema – Listen… or Hear.” A rabbinic midrash is offered suggesting Jacob’s concern that his sons continue to hold fast to their connection to Adonai, to God. In other...
Parashat Vayigash 5785
December 31, 2024
Rabbi Gerry L. Ginsburg (AJR '19)
When I was a student at AJR, I was fortunate to take an elective entitled Bibliodrama with Dr. Peter Pitzele. We were told that the class would expand how we would view Torah, by making a parashah come alive by making it into a drama.
Parashat Mikeitz 5785
December 23, 2024
Rabbi Greg Schindler (’09)
“The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part.”
– “The Waiting”, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Parashat Vayeishev 5785
December 16, 2024
Rabbi Susan Elkodsi
One of my favorite TV shows growing up (with reruns on METV) was “Green Acres,” the story of Oliver Wendell Douglas, a New York lawyer, and his Hungarian socialite wife, Lisa who move from Manhattan to a farm in a place called “Hooterville.” There they encounter all sorts of characters as they try to make their way in a very different world than they’re used to. Played by the late Ava Gabor, Lisa both fits into the community, and at the same time, doesn’t.
