Torah Portion Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet (Genesis) 23:1-25:18
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 […]
Sh’mini (The Eighth) Leviticus 9:1-11:47
Sh’mini (The Eighth) Leviticus 9:1-11:47 1.What do you think was G-d’s purpose for the kosher laws? a. The kosher laws were to set the people apart, b. to keep them from being assimilated into the pagan world around them. c. It was teaching them to live by G-d’s plan, to live in G-d’s framework. d. […]
Vayechi “And He Lived” Genesis 47:28-50:26
1.In Genesis 49:26 we see the Hebrew word for bless used twice. When we read both 25 and 26 the word appears six times What does the word bless say to us about how we are to live our lives. Is it important for us to bless others? What are we actually doing when we bless […]
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Gen 44:18-47:27
Vayigash (And He Approached) B’resheet/Gen 44:18-47:27 Haftorah Readings: Ezekiel 37:15-28 1.Last week near the end of the Torah portion, Genesis 43:34 says, “Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.” Why do you think Joseph […]
Meketz (At the end) Genesis 41:1-44:17
Meketz (At the end) Genesis 41:1-44:17 1.In this Torah portion the brothers did not recognize their brother because of the clothes he was wearing. This encounter between Joseph and his brothers is the fifth in a series of stories in which clothes play a key role. Can you think of the other four occasions? What […]
Vayishlach (He Sent) B’resheet/Gen. 32:4-36:43
1.In Proverbs 18:21 we read, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” How did this verse play out in Rachel’s death. Ya’akov and his family were making their way through the land of Canaan, going to the city of Hebron where his father Isaac still lived. On the way, Rachel went into labor with her […]
Vayetze (And He Went Out) B’resheet (Gen) 28-32
1.What gave Jacob the courage to stand up to Laban and make this demand to be released from his power? Let’s look at Genesis 31:13 to see what happened that gave Jacob the courage to stand up to Laban and make this demand to be released from his power. In Genesis 31:3 we read these words from […]
Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet (Genesis) 23:1-25:18, Haftarah Reading: I Kings 1:1-31
1.In the time we are living in I think it is important to know what scripture says about G-d promising Avraham land and that it was a promise that was to be everlasting. It is also important to know exactly where to find these verses and even memorize them for future use. G-d promised Avraham land 5 […]
Vayera (And He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis 18:1-22:24
Vayera (And He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis 18:1-22:24 1.Let’s look at Lot and his family in Genesis 19:1-29. Would you say they lived out last week’s Torah portion of “go to yourself?” How did they end up where they were, living in Sodom, neighbors at their door demanding Lot to send out his guests? Was that who G-d created them […]
Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Gen. 12:1-17:27
Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis 12:1-17:27 1.I know we have talked about this in the past but as a refresher look at the opening words of our portion. It begins with Lekh L’kha. These Hebrew words are often translated with the English word go. However, in Hebrew, G-d actually says two words which when […]