Parshat Mikeitz, the story of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt, is almost always read during Chanukah. But is there any real connection between the two stories?
This week, we take a longer journey than usual, in order to explain the surprising placement of Chapter 38 of Genesis. It is the story of Judah and Tamar, which, while quite well-known, seems to have little to do with the larger narrative of Joseph in which it is embedded. With some help from Rashi, we attempt to put Chapter 38 into its much larger context, and discover in it a far greater importance than first read would indicate.
On the road home, Jacob suddenly bursts into tears. We are told that it is because Deborah, his mother's nursemaid has died. But, as always, there is more to the story than that.
This week, Jacob innovates a new religious ritual: the stone monument. They seem to be received favorably, at first. But later in the Torah, God suddenly appears to disapprove. What went wrong?
Esau - The Red One. He emerged from the womb, bearing the traits of a killer. But what made him so bad? Did he choose his fate or was he just born that way?