by RabbiOlivier | Jan 15, 2016 | Torah Reflections
Bo Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 From Pharaoh’s Slaves to God’s Slaves There is one peculiar word in Hebrew that is used interchangeably in this week’s Torah portion. While the Torah portion itself tells of the last plagues wrought upon Egypt by God and, in...
by RabbiOlivier | Jan 9, 2016 | Torah Reflections
Va’eira Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Know Thyself to be Enslaved Every year, as I meet the text narrating the plagues of Egypt, I am confronted with the same paradox. God commends Moses to ask Pharaoh to free the Hebrews. Pharaoh refuses. God brings down a plague....
by RabbiOlivier | Jan 1, 2016 | Torah Reflections
Shemot Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 You Can Take Moses Out of Egypt, But… This week marks the beginning of the Exodus story with Moses as its central character. At its core, this story is one of liberation. And beneath its literal level, it is about the inner...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 12, 2015 | Torah Reflections
Mikeitz Genesis 41:1 – 44:17 Joseph: Interpreter of Dreams, Creator of Reality Our Torah portion begins with Pharaoh’s famous dreams. The first one: seven cows coming up from the Nile fat and sturdy, followed by seven cows sickly and gaunt. The latter eat the...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 5, 2015 | Torah Reflections
Vayeishev Genesis 37:1 – 40:20 The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Joseph Meet Joseph. Joseph is Jacob’s favorite son, to whom he gave the famous coat of many colors. Though we meet him at seventeen as our Torah portion opens, Joseph is described as a lad, a...