Parshat Vayishlach – 8 parshiot down, only 46 more to go! Vayishlach opens as Jacob prepares to return to his homeland and reunite with his brother Esau. Anxious about their encounter, Jacob separates his family and flocks into two groups, hoping that if one is attacked the other might survive. He sends his servants ahead …
Parshat Vayeitzei – 7 parshiot down, only 47 more to go! Vayeitzei begins as Jacob leaves Beer-Sheba, fleeing from his brother Esau. He stops for the night and when he sleeps, he dreams. He dreams of angels ascending and descending a stairway/ladder reaching to heaven. God promises to protect him and reaffirms God’s covenant with …
Parshat Toldot – 6 parshiot down, only 48 more to go! This week’s parsha, Toldot, opens with Rebekah and Isaac becoming first time parents with the birth of twins, Jacob and Esau. While she is pregnant, God tells Rebekah that two nations are within her and that the older one will serve the younger one. …
Because life so often happens around food, we’re spending the year exploring the weekly parshiot and finding connections to each week’s Shabbat menu. Sarah, a seasoned Jewish educator, brings a wealth of knowledge to our discussions, while Alison, who loves creating dishes that bring people together, is excited to explore the weekly portions in greater …
By Robin Jacobson. The shadow of the past hovers over the present in the remarkable debut novel, The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden. Shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize, the novel earned the National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction, as well as a place on multiple “Best Books of 2024” lists across the United States, …
Parshat Vayera – 4 parshiot down, only 50 more to go! Vayera is full of dramatic events. The parsha begins as Sarah and Abraham warmly welcome 3 visitors who reveal that Sarah will soon have a son. Given their advanced age, Sarah laughs at this news. Also in Vayera is the story of the destruction …
Parshat Lech Lecha – 3 parshiot down, only 51 more to go! In this parsha, God tells Abram (later to become Abraham) to leave his native land and venture into unknown territory with his wife Sarai (later to become Sarah). God promises Abram that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and that …
Summary from Sefaria*: Noach (“Noah”) begins as God decides to destroy mankind with a flood. At God’s command, the righteous Noah builds an ark, where Noah, his family, and select animals survive the flood. Noah’s children bear children, and several generations develop. God confounds the speech of people building the Tower of Babel. Because life …
During Yom Kippur, our Beth El community heard the heartbreaking story from Kibbutz Nir Oz family member Carmit Palty Katzir. Carmit’s father Rami, 79, was killed on October 7th. Hamas terrorists took her mother Hana, 77, and her older brother Elad, 47, as captives. Hanna was released in a temporary ceasefire deal in November 2023, but Elad …
By Robin Jacobson. It’s the stuff of family lore and American history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, over 10 million European immigrants crossed the Atlantic Ocean to America. These included 2.5 million Jews, many of them fleeing pogroms, persecution, and poverty in the Czarist Russian Empire. Courageous and determined, they built new lives in the United States. …
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