Personalities of the Bible

Fourteen Things You Need to Know About King David

The mighty warrior and sweet singer slew Goliath, stole the throne, and conquered Jerusalem—and that’s just a start!

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef

Perhaps the most powerful rabbi in history, Yosef dramatically reshaped Israeli politics and religion.

The Tattoo Taboo in Judaism

Body ink is a no-no, but it won’t bar you from Jewish life.

The History of Ethiopian Jewry

Piecing together legends and stories.

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Next Torah Portion

Summary

In this Torah portion, Sara dies at the age of 127. Abraham searches for a place to bury her and settles on Machpelah. Abraham searches for a wife for his son, Isaac. Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant meets Rebecca at a well, where she provides water for him and his camels. Abraham marries Keturah and has six more sons. He then dies at the age of 175.

FULL SUMMARY
HAFTARAH SUMMARY

Parashat Chayei Sarah

Genesis 23:1-25:18

I Kings 1:1-31

Chayei Sarah: The Reverberations of Familial Violence

The lingering trauma of Isaac’s near-sacrifice is felt in his relationship with his wife Rebecca and in the generations that follow.

Jewish Meditation Moment

Meets: Tuesdays

Hosted by: My Jewish Learning


recharge now

Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:

Time at My Side

Why I’m letting go of the future and recommitting to the here and now.

Sacred Dark

Jewish sources portray darkness as both the embodiment of death and as the wellspring of creativity.

Freedom Beyond the Self

Freedom requires us to know what we are for, what we will do with our freedom, and how that will impact others.


MORE from MY JEWISH LEARNING

Must a Jew Believe in God?

The centrality of God in Judaism may not be as straightforward as you think.

Jews and Finance

The idea that Jews are good with money is one of the oldest Jewish stereotypes. But it’s undeniable that Jews are well-represented in finance and business.

History of the Jews of Ukraine

Once Europe’s largest Jewish community, Ukraine has had a major influence on the development of Ashkenazi Jewish culture.

Shehechiyanu: A Meditation on this Moment

This blessing, traditionally recited for firsts, can be said anytime — since every moment is new and unprecedented.

What is Jewish Meditation?

“Truly, you are where your mind is,” taught the Baal Shem Tov.

Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World

This phrase with kabbalistic roots has come to connote social justice.

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