Vayik’revu y’mei Yisrael lamut… When Israel’s time to die drew near… (Parshat Vayechi, Gen. 47:29) Vayik’revu y’mei David lamut… When David’s time to die drew near… (Haftarah of Vayechi, I Kings 2:1) This parashah marks the yahrzeit (anniversary of the death) of my father, Dr. David Kligler of blessed memory. He passed away on the […]
Author Archive | Rabbi Jonathan
Vayigash: Judah and Joseph
Vayigash eilav Yehudah vayomer “Bi Adoni…” And Judah approached him and said, “By your leave, my lord…” (Gen 44:18) This may be the most dramatic moment in the entire Book of Genesis. During the long famine, Joseph’s 11 brothers had come down to Egypt to seek provisions. Joseph, now vizier of Egypt and in charge […]
Chanukah: Let Your Little Light Shine
I pause from the weekly cycle of Torah readings and take note of the procession of the seasons and of the holidays: we have reached Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Part of the genius of the Jewish Holidays is that they resonate on many levels of experience. As we travel through the Jewish year, the […]
Vayeshev: What goes down must come up!
Vayeshev Ya’akov b’eretz m’gurei aviv b’eretz kna’an. Eleh toldot Ya’akov: Yosef ben sh’va esrei shana hayah ro’eh et achiv batzon. Jacob now settled in the land of his father’s sojourning, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob: Joseph was seventeen years old, and he would tend the flocks with his brothers. […]
Vayishlach: What’s in a Name?
Vayomer, “Lo Ya’akov ye’amer od shimcha, ki im Yisrael, ki sarita im Elohim v’im anashim vatuchal.” And he said, “No more shall you be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and you have overcome. (Gen. 32:29) I love this story: It is time for Jacob to go home […]
Vayetze: This Is The Place
Vayetze Ya’akov miBe’er Shava vayelech Harana. Vayifga bamakom vayalen sham… And Jacob left Be’er Sheva and set out for Haran. He encountered The Place, and he spent the night there… (Gen. 28:10-11) This is the beginning of Jacob’s journey of spiritual awakening. By impersonating his brother Esau, Jacob had tricked his blind father Isaac and […]
Toldot: Isaac Digs His Father’s Wells Anew
V’eleh toldot Yitzchak ben Avraham: Avraham holid et Yitzchak These are the generations of Isaac son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac. (Gen. 25:19) In our marvelous Torah study class yesterday (if you are in the area and are able, join us at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation Thursdays, December 4, 11 and 18 from 12:15-2:00 pm!) […]
Chayei Sarah: Equanimity in the Face of Uncertainty
And the life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. (Gen 22:1) Our portion this week is named Chayei Sarah, the Life of Sarah, drawn as always from the very first words of the portion. There is an irony in this […]
Vayera: A Visionary Journey
At the conclusion of last week’s portion Lech Lecha, “Go To Yourself”, Abram has expanded into Abraham, and has circumcised himself – meaning, as I described last week, that Abraham has opened himself and committed himself to remain open to YHVH, Life Unfolding. As this week’s reading of Vayera, which means “He Had a Vision,” opens, Abraham is […]
Lech Lecha, Go To Yourself: Abraham and the Spiritual Journey
And YHVH said to Abram, “Lech Lecha (go forth, but literally go to yourself) from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. (Genesis 12:1) For me, the Torah reveals its deepest lessons when I read it as a spiritual guidebook rather than a physical, historical tale. […]