Category Archives: Parashat HaShavua – Torah Portion
A commentary on the weekly Torah Portion.
The Finger of God – Va’eira – Jan. 9
Why do people not believe in God? I was talking to a friend recently and we were talking about many different topics. At one point in our conversation my friend, whom we’ll call Zach, explained to me how he has worked for several famous pastors and evangelists in the past and how he saw hypocrisy […]
Continue readingGod Knows Our Pain – Shemot – Jan. 2
Pain and suffering are a part of life that we all wish would just go away at times, however, it is also an instrument of God to stir within us a desire for change. The well-known writer and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis is famous for saying the following about the subject of pain: We can […]
Continue readingUntil Shiloh Comes – VaYechee – Dec. 26
Jacob knew that he was about to die but before he died he wanted to set a few things straight. Jacob called Joseph and asked him to not bury him in Egypt but to take and bury his body in the burial place of his fathers, in Hebron. Jacob requested that Joseph place his hand […]
Continue readingOne Tree, One Nation, One King – Vayigash – Dec. 19
The relationship between Judah and Joseph plays a key role in this week’s Torah Portion. The very first word in Hebrew of this week’s study is “ויגש” – “Vayigash” – “And he drew near,” which is also the name of the Torah Portion. The person performing the action was Judah and he was drawing near […]
Continue readingThe Character of Judah – Miketz – Dec. 12
The hand of God is seen throughout this week’s Torah Portion in dramatic ways. In the very first verse of this week’s study we read of the dream of Pharaoh: “Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile” (Gen. 41:1). […]
Continue readingThe Spirit of Prophecy – Va’Yeshev – Dec. 5
The chosen seed of the patriarchs has always been regarded with the utmost importance. Isaac was the chosen seed of Abraham and Jacob was the chosen seed of Isaac. The seed of Jacob, which would carry on the promise of God, was not revealed right away and seemed to be kept from the eyes of […]
Continue readingWrestling with God – Vayishlach – Nov. 28
I began my day asking God to have mercy on me and to provide a man or woman of peace at the New Jersey DMV (Division of Motor Vehicles). Both my driver’s license and my car registration in the USA expired during my two-years of not residing in the country and I needed to renew […]
Continue readingRedemption of the Firstborn – VaYeitzei – Nov. 21
The story of Jacob and Esau is one of extreme contrasts. As outlined in last week’s Torah Portion commentary, The Suffering of the Chosen, the struggle between Jacob and Esau began while they were yet in the womb. From these twin boys emerged two distinct peoples and two distinct nations. Even in their childhood the […]
Continue readingThe Suffering of the Chosen – Toldot – Nov. 14
In a recent conversation with an orthodox Jewish rabbi I was challenged with a question regarding the accomplishment of Yeshua at His first coming. This rabbi asked me, “If Yeshua died on the cross to conquer sin and provide spiritual salvation for His followers, why do believers in Yeshua still sin?” This is an excellent […]
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