Torah Portion

The act of giving blessing creates connection. Hopefully, we do not wait until the end of our lives to create or facilitate this connection with our loved ones as Jacob did.

While everyone makes mistakes, a leader whose decisions stem from rashness and haste can spell disaster for his people – and potentially for humanity as a whole.

Israelis are deeply passionate about their political and ideological beliefs. As a people, Jews possess a natural tenacity and a remarkable strength of will.

Many times, salvation is not complicated at all. It is already here, right before our eyes.

The Torah reminds us of a slower tempo. That cadence can enhance our ability to act more long term and proactively, as we face so many dilemmas, to be more like Joseph and practice “provention.”

Even when it seems that everything is deteriorating and that evil is triumphing over good, beneath the surface – in the hidden realm – the world is steadily advancing in one direction.

Joseph and Judah each embark on their own personal odysseys toward leadership.

True prayer begins with gratitude, which reflects trust and acknowledgment of God’s greatness. Then, it elaborates on every concern and worry.

"We have to resolve the tension in ourselves before we can do so for others. We have to be at peace with ourselves before we can be at peace with the world."

The ladder symbolizes the mission of a Jew: to ascend and elevate, to sanctify the physical, and to uplift the mundane toward the sublime.