by RabbiOlivier | Dec 8, 2017 | Torah Reflections
Vayeshev Genesis 37:1 – 40:23 Embracing Imbalance Vayeishev, the name and first word of this week’s Torah portion has caused much ink to be spilled. Vayeishev is translated in English to mean: “And he settled,” referring to Jacob finally settling down “in the...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 1, 2017 | Torah Reflections
Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 Awakening from Within the Silence One of the first revelations that meditation gifts us with is an encounter with the unbelievable noise that lies within us, right behind our closed eyes. As if by magic, as soon as our eyes...
by RabbiOlivier | Jan 20, 2017 | General, Torah Reflections
Sh’mot Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 Beyond Fear and Morality This week we open the Book of Exodus. Jacob and his sons settled in Egypt as Joseph, then Viceroy, invited them to. After that generation dies out we are told, “the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they...
by RabbiOlivier | Jan 17, 2017 | General, 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 this week’s portion and many more...
by RabbiOlivier | Jan 3, 2017 | General, Torah Reflections
Vayishlach Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 Honoring Our Fears In the previous Torah portion we read about Jacob’s vision of the ladder that came to him in a dream. At the end of that vision God appears to him to say: “And here I am, with you. I will guard you wherever you...