Parashat Vayechi  The Gift of Teshuvah!  Genesis: A Book of Fraternal Feuds!   Israel Reunited in Egypt but Trapped in Exile!   We conclude the book of Genesis this week with the reading of Vayechi, which describes the final words of Yaakov before he dies and is buried in the Machpelah Cave in Israel. His children have at last reconciled and reunited, but at what a price, as the first chill of their approaching enslavement can already be felt.  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayigash  “What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” So says Shakespeare. But the Torah assigns great significance to names. So when Yaakov is referred to as both "Yaakov" and "Yisrael" in a single narrative, there must be an explanation.   Vayigash (Genesis 44:18 - 47:27)   Parashat Vayigash is read on Shabbat:   Tevet 11, 5784/December 23, 2023

Parashat Vayigash  3 Days in Tevet  Israel's Multi-front War   Yosef Reunites with his Brothers   Israel advances in its war in the south to destroy Hamas, even as it engages in war in the north against Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies in Syria, and even as it guards against the Houthis in Yemen and fights terror in Judea and Samaria. The 8th, 9th and 10th of Tevet are all days of mourning for Israel. The 10th is a fast day commemorating the beginning of the Babylonian siege against Jerusalem that ultimately led to the destruction of the first Holy Temple. And Yosef reunites with his brothers and welcomes his father to Egypt, of which we will talk about more next week!

Parashat Miketz  What's in a dream? Our entire future, it would seem, if the dream is properly understood by a wise interpreter. Yosef was just that person, wise and gifted with enough nerve to stand before Pharaoh and tell him how things were going to play out. Today our leaders don't put much stock in dreams. Nevertheless, armed with cutting edge technology and teams of expert interpreters, our leaders, more often than not, remain entirely in the dark.   Miketz (Genesis 41:1 - 44:17)   Parashat Miketz is read on Shabbat:   Tevet 4, 5784/December 16, 2023 www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Miketz Yosef Recognizes His Brothers! The Lights of Chanukah - Vanquishing the Darkness!   Brotherly Love Comes Natural for Israel!   We continue to read the saga of Yosef and his brothers, and to live it, as well, as following a year of sibling contention, Israel has rediscovered her natural love for one another. If we don't love one another, who will? Chanukah, the holiday of Jewish pride and empowerment continues to inspire, and the IDF is bringing light to the darkness of Gaza.  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayeshev  Were Yosef's dreams of grandeur a self fulfilling prophecy? Or was his rise to authority in Egypt, the world's super power at the time, a mere coincidence? And did Yaakov's attempt to steer things in a different direction only help to facilitate what he was trying to avoid?  Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1 - 40:23)  Parashat Vayeshev is read on Shabbat:  Kislev 26, 5784/December 9, 2023  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayeshev Yosef in Search of His Brothers! Chanukah - The Festival of Lights!   The Evil Rot of America's Elite Universities!   Yosef locates his brothers as his father requested, only to discover that they have plotted against him. Thus begins the sad saga of Israel's descent into Egyptian enslavement. Today it's the self-proclaimed human rights warriors and the alleged guardians of higher education and enlightenment who have descended into the depravity of justifying any horror committed as long as it's being committed to an Israeli or a Jew, man, woman or child. www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayishlach Rape. It's a blight on humanity but it's not going to go away by itself. It must be dealt with, but how? Yaakov's sons Shimon and Levi provide an answer, harsh, but effective.   Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4 - 36:43)   Parashat Vayishlach is read on Shabbat:   Kislev 19, 5784/December 2, 2023  www.templeinstittue.org

Parashat Vayishlach  Prayer & Preparation for War!  The Ancient War Crime of Rape!   Wrestling With Our Creator!   Wrestling with G-d, with ourselves and with our fellow man has been a way of life for the children of Israel from the days of Yaakov who wrestled with an angel. How are we to respond to the rape of our daughters? By diplomacy, as Yaakov attempted? Or by the sword, as Shimon and Levi did, killing each and every man of Shechem, making certain they could not repeat the crime?  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayeitze Liars gonna lie, cheaters gonna cheat. Deception is as old as man himself. It's a bad trait, but is it sometimes necessary? When dealing with an inveterate deceiver we may be required to outplay them at their own game.   Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10 - 32:3)   Parashat Vayeitzei is read on Shabbat:   Kislev 12, 5784/November 25, 2023  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayetze  Dreaming of a House of G-d! Israel Will Defeat Evil, But Will the West Succumb?   Israel United Can Build the Holy Temple!   Fleeing from his murderous brother Esau, Yaakov had, perhaps, reached the low point in his life. But it was precisely at this moment that he had the courage and the vision to dream of a House of G-d. Responding to Yaakov's vision, HaShem promised him that his children would spread to the west and the east, the north and the south, and that through his seed, "the families of the earth" shall be blessed.  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Toldot  The eternal struggle between Yaakov and Esau began while still in the womb, and continues to this day. The irrational but explosive hatred called antisemitism is the ever reappearing expression of this never ending enmity.  Toldot (Genesis 25:19 - 28:9)  Parashat Toldot is read on Shabbat:  Kislev 5, 5784/November 18, 2023  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Toldot  Family, G-d & Good Advice!  The Long Journey Home of the Ethiopian Jews   The War in Israel & the War in America   Israel's war against the satanic Hamas enters its fifth week with Israeli forces penetrating deep into Gaza and destroying the vast Hamas terror network as they advance. Yitzchak and Rivkah make their lives in the very land that is today's war zone. Israel is routing out the evil in Gaza; can America rout out the evil rot that is threatening its institutions and its way of life? www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Chayei Sara "And these are the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred years and thirty years and seven years... In the presence of all of his brothers he fell." Thus closes parashat Chayei Sara and thus begins the history of the Ishmaelites who some 2,500 years later took up the religion of Islam, which leads us all the way to today's present conflict between the children of Israel and the children of Ishmael. The conflict is not about land or liberty. Its roots are in religion, and only through religion can the conflict at last be put to rest.   Chayei Sara (Genesis 23:1 - 25:18)   Parashat Chayei Sara is read on Shabbat:   MarCheshvan 27, 5784/November 11, 2023  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Chayei Sarah  Love & Death, Marriage & Birth in the Time of War  Eliezer, Top Student of Avraham & Servant of HaShem.   Israel Tightens the Noose Around Hamas.   Chayei Sara begins with the death of Sara and ends with the marriage of Yitzchak and Rivkah. Israel today in the midst of a deadly war is also witnessing a blessed upsurge in marriage, as young men and women are tying the knot as they report for duty. Life goes on even as war is being waged, and Israel will emerge not only victorious, but stronger than ever!  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayera  "Will You even destroy the righteous with the wicked?" Avraham asks of G-d, concerning Sodom. The same question, in slightly different terms, is being put before Israel today, as the IDF continues to pound Gaza following the inhuman atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on 1,400 innocent Israeli men, women, children, infants, unborn babies, toddlers, teens and the elderly. What consideration should be taken concerning the safety of the allegedly uninvolved citizens of Gaza as Israel eliminates Hamas? The ambiguous answer Avraham received from G-d leaves only one possible conclusion: get out while you can.   Vayera (Genesis 18:1 - 22:24)   Parashat Vayera is read on Shabbat:   MarCheshvan 20, 5784/November 4, 2023  www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Vayera  Unity, Spirit & Love in the Time of War  "Take Your Son, Your Only One" "Will the Judge of the Entire Earth Not Perform Justice?"   Welcoming the stranger, visiting the sick, seeking justice, treating others with loving kindness and walking with HaShem - this is the legacy of Avraham. It is these very principles which guide and unite the people of Israel today, along with the gift of joy and laughter, (the legacy of Sara), even as we relentlessly pursue the demonic Hamas death cult that seeks our destruction. The covenant between Avraham and G-d lives on!   www.templeinstitute.org

Parashat Lech Lecha The war currently waging in and about the land of Israel has its ancient origins in this week's Torah reading. From his birth, Yishmael, the son of Avraham and Hagar, was destined to be a thorn in the sides of all the nations.   Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1 - 17:27)   Parashat Lech Lecha is read on Shabbat:   MarCheshvan 13, 5784/October 28, 2023   www.templeinstitute.org

Lech Lecha - Go Forth! World War in the Days of Avraham and Today   When Loving Kindness Means Fighting for it!   Israel continues to pound Hamas and their supporters in Gaza, defending the land promised by G-d to Avraham, and defending the very children of Avraham to whom G-d promised the land. There comes a time in our lives and in the life of mankind when we are called upon to drop all that we have been doing and report to HaShem. Now is the time to decide: will you be among those blessed by HaShem, or will you be among the cursed? Stand by Israel and bask in the blessing!

Parashat Noach There is a trajectory in human history that bends to the will of G-d, something we call fate. At the same time there is another kind of fate, a personal fate, also known as hashgacha pratit, determined by HaShem, out of compassion for His creation.   Noach (Genesis 6:9 - 11:32)   Parashat Noach is read on Shabbat:   MarCheshvan 6, 5784/October 21, 2023  www.templeinstittue.org