By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion Although, undoubtedly, in this week''s portion the most important section is the blessing given to each of the twelve sons of Jacob, space requirements preclude us from discussing each blessing in detail. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-28 | Religion Introduction: Obviously, Moses bringing down the 10 Commandments from Mount Sinai is the most important event of this week''s portion and probably in the entire history of the Jewish people. Accordingly, it deserves its own article for discussion and analysis. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion In this week''s portion of the Torah we continue with the story of Joseph in Egypt. Interestingly, this section begins by telling us that it was a full two years after Joseph interpreted the dreams of the baker and the wine steward that the Pharaoh had his two dreams. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-28 | Religion Introduction: Some rabbis try to make "more relevant" the portions of the Torah that deal with the dimensions and materials used in building the sanctuary by comparing the altar to such mundane things in our lives like a kitchen table. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-28 | Religion Introduction: For someone like myself who prefers to interpret everything in the Old Testament in terms of metaphors, this is a difficult Torah passage to work with because many of the rules and regulations seem quite simple and straight forward, hence, they obviously cannot be metaphors. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-28 | Religion In this week''s portion of the Torah we are confronted with a disturbing image, similar to the one we encountered when Abraham was ordered to sacrifice his son Isaac. This story, however, does not have "a happy ending" as this time all the first born sons of Egypt are indeed killed. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-28 | Religion Introduction: When I first came to Israel, in regards to translations of the Bible, I was a strong believer in "the guiding hand of the spirit of God". read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion In this week''s portion of the Torah we continue with the story of the encounter between Jacob and his brother Esau. Why this story is split in two is beyond me and it would seem to have been better to have begun this week''s section just after the separation of Jacob and Laban. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion Genesis 18.1 - 22.24 This week''s section of the Torah begins with Abraham sitting at "the opening to the tent", when he sees 3 men standing in front of him. read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion The biggest mystery about this week''s portion of the Torah is: "Who decided where to begin and end this section? And: Why at these particular points in the narrative was the story disrupted? One thing that happened towards the end of last week''s portion is that we were told that "Israel is God read more
By: Dror Ben Ami | 2010-05-29 | Religion Genesis: 23.1 - 25.18 In this week''s Torah portion what we actually see are 3 stories about 3 different women. What I would like to do in this article is first discuss the women and then, at the end, return to the story of Abraham purchasing Sarah''s gravesite. read more