Vayeishev (He Continued Living) B’Resheet (Gen.) 37:1-40:23
1.Genesis 40:14 says, “But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.” What actually happened? In Genesis 41:1 it says, “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…” and the cup bearer remembered Joseph. What does this part of Joseph’s story of waiting two full years say […]
Vayishlach Gen 32:4-36:43 HafTorah: Hosea 11:7-12:12
1.In Genesis 32:11 we read, “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.” Why did Jacob fear Esau? Why did Jacob fear Esau? He had heard the promises of G-d and experienced […]
Vayetze (He went out) Gen./B’resheet 28:10-32:3 Haftorah: Hosea 11:7-13:5
Before we begin with the questions for this week I have a thought for you to ponder. Jacob’s accidental marriage to Leah is a good example of how God sometimes works in our lives. We read in Genesis 29:25, And it came to pass that in the morning, behold it was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, […]
Tol’dot (History) B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9
1.After reading this Torah portion how would you describe the personalities of Jacob and Esau. How did their personality traits work to their advantage or disadvantage? Do you see yourself in either one of these brothers? Genesis 25:27 where the Torah gives us a hint of who these two young men had become. Esau had […]
Chayei Sarah B’Resheet/Genesis 23:1-25:18 HafTorah: I Kings 1:1-31
1.In Genesis 24:12 we read where Abraham’s servant prayed about the tasks before him. We see him invoking the name of Abraham when he prays to G-d. He asked for chesed (loving kindness) toward Abraham. He was basically praying in Avraham’s name. Why would he do that? We as believers usually end our prayers with, “In […]
Vayera Gen. 18:1-22:24 HafTorah: II Kings 4:1-37
Torah Portion: Vayera Genesis 18:1-22:24 HafTorah: II Kings 4:1-37 I would like us to compare Abraham’s actions with other earlier Biblical characters. a.How did Adam and Eve handle their sinful actions when confronted by G-d? Now look at Genesis 13:8-9 where a quarrel breaks out between the herdsmen of Lot and those of Abraham over the availability […]
Lekh L’kha (Get Yourself Out) B’resheet (Genesis 12:1-17:27
1.What did G-d tell Avraham he would have to give up and why? Have you had to give up anything for your faith? In the very first verse of this Torah portion it says, “Get out from your country, and from your family, and from your father’s house, to a land I will show you.” a.What does it mean get […]
Noah B’Resheet (Gen.) 6:9-11:32 HafTorah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
1.Look at the word in Hebrew for ark. It is tevat. Like many Hebrew words this one carries more than one meaning. It can also mean “word.” If we look at this as its meaning what could this story be telling us? Sometimes we can feel like life is a series of storms. Sometimes these […]
Beresheet (In the Beginning) Genesis 1:1-6:8 HafTorah: Isaiah 42:5-43:11
1.Why did G-d show Adam this tree and then say do not eat of it? Why put temptation before them in the first place? G-d did not want robots. He wanted us, who could make the right decision, to be tempted and overcome that temptation and to grow by overcoming. He wants us to be overcomers […]