Jewish Texts
The God Of Isaac
As Jacob descends to Egypt he calls on the God of Isaac to assure him that this decision is correct.
Reminders Of Love
Like Judah's approach to Joseph, the people of Israel must sometimes remind God of our unique commitment to one another.
Feeling Another’s Pain
As God promises to accompany Jacob into exile, we learn that sometimes the challenge of being fully present and sharing in someone's pain is greater than relieving their suffering.
Parashat Vayechi: Summary
On his deathbed, Jacob blesses his sons and asks them to bury him in Canaan.
Educating Against Egypt
Through his experiences with his nephew Lot, Abraham learns valuable parenting skills.
Maimonides on the Six Orders of the Mishnah
The sequence of the six orders follows the precedent of Scripture
Where Was Sarah?
Sarah's death illustrates the flaw of attempting to impose perfect justice on an imperfect world.
The Duality And Unpredictability Of Human Nature
The creation of humans and our variability expressed in Bereshit present us with endless choices and challenges for how to live our lives.
Classical Understandings of Mitzvot and their Reasons
The rabbinic sages and later philosophers and mystics offered many ways to categorize the mitzvot and explain their significance.