Because the Torah is not a book of fairy tales in which righteous people live peacefully ever after. The Torah is a book about real life, not life as we wish it to be, but life as we experience it: ...

“A unified understanding- that encompasses all the events of life- brings us to the level of comprehension known as ‘ruach ...

Parshat Vayeshev introduces us to the unraveling of Joseph’s family saga, with brothers selling a brother, jealousy ...

In this selection of essays, op-eds and speeches, the first piece written six months after his son’s murder, Pearl gives us words that are, yes, sometimes heartbreaking, but also funny, profound, ...

Delve into Parshat Vayeshev, where we uncover the story of Jacob, a symbol of righteousness and humility in the Torah.

Robert Alter parallels the twins Peretz and Zerach with the better known twins Jacob and Esau. In his words, “the name Zerach means ‘shining’ as in the dawning of the sun, and so is linked with the ...

With an Modern Orthodox, Sephardi background, Rabbi Olivier Benhaim has been a student of Torah and of the Jewish way for most of his life. He lived in Israel for close to 10 years, where he studied ...

In Genesis Chapter 38, the second chapter of our parsha this week, we learn about a particularly challenging episode in the lives of Judah and Tamar, including how Tamar tricked Judah into having ...

Joseph is one of the most complicated and controversial characters in the Torah. Is he doing exactly what God wants him to do so the Israelite people can eventually leave ancient Egypt and be freed, ...

The chopped ingredients for “Joseph’s Technicolor Stew,” a dish inspired by the Torah portion Vayeshev. As a foodie, I eat seasonally. But this year, my menus are planned week by week, and around more ...