by RabbiOlivier | Oct 13, 2017 | Torah Reflections
Bereshit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 Cain & 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...
by katie@betalef.org | Oct 31, 2016 | General, Torah Reflections
Bereshit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 The Kabbalah of Creation I love the esoteric interpretation by Nachmanides—Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, born in Spain (1194-1270)—on the first verse of Genesis: In a beginning God created the heaven and the earth. [Gen. 1:1] Nachmanides...
by RabbiOlivier | Oct 20, 2014 | Torah Reflections
Bereishit Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 In The Image of God As the Torah scroll is open once more to its very first word, and the annual cycle of our Torah study begins again, we are immediately plunged into the grand story of creation of sacred...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 16, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayechi Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 Conditioned Happiness Last week as I studied the Torah portion, after reading numerous rabbinic commentaries, an image emerged of Jacob’s soul-to soul connection to his son, Benjamin. Upon reading...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 6, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayigash Genesis 44:18 – 47:27 Joseph: Accountability and Free Will Chapter 45 is pivotal in the Book of Genesis. Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, who had been second-in-command of Egypt for the past nine years, reveals himself...
