by RabbiOlivier | Nov 12, 2012 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1 – 25:18 When Isaac Met Rebekah This week’s Torah portion opens with Sarah’s death. After Abraham mourns her, he sets out to accomplish his last fatherly duty before he, too, makes his transition: finding a wife for his son...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 12, 2012 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayera Genesis 18:1 – 22:24 Beyond Our Need For Justice In his life storyline, Abraham has not always risen to the occasion of his ethical challenges. Yet this aspect of his story his worthy of praise: his standing up to God in the episode of Sodom and Gomorrah....
by RabbiOlivier | Oct 26, 2012 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 Abraham: A Promise For The Future This week’s Torah portion marks the beginning of the Patriarchal story in the Book of Genesis. Abraham receives God’s call to leave his home and travel to an unknown land with the...
by RabbiOlivier | Oct 19, 2012 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Noah Genisis 6:0 – 11:32 Noah: A Righteous Man in His Generation? There is a thought-provoking Midrash about Noah from this week’s Torah portion that details a debate between two rabbis as to why the biblical author begins with introducing Noah as...
by RabbiOlivier | Oct 15, 2012 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Bereshit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 Cain And Abel: A Teaching on Generosity Abel was a Shepherd and Cain tilled the soil. And it was, after the passing of days, that Cain brought some of the fruit of the soil as an offering to the Eternal; and as for Abel, he too brought...