WUPJ Library

After two months of wandering, the Israelites arrive at Sinai and make camp. Moses speaks with God and receives the instructions, which God intended for Moses to repeat.

When we think of the parting of the waters, quite often we are drawn to artistic versions or cinematic portrayals. We always see the waters split into two – a pillar of water on the left, and one on the right – with the Israelites marching between.  But Rabbi Eliezer imagined it differently

In the midst of the most frightening challenge that Moses has ever experienced, God is telling him, “I am right here. You think you are going to face Pharaoh, but instead, you’ll be coming toward Me the whole time.”

For many people, life is a search for the presence of God in their lives. For a person to know God is with him or her can give great comfort during times of loss and pain, as well as strength when decisions need to be made and the correct path to them is not clear.

We should be getting something out of our time, but momentous occasions, by their very nature, do not happen all the time. Are the rest of the times significant, too?

The traditional Friday night blessing reinforces Progressive Judaism’s recognition of those with Jewish fathers as well as Jewish mothers.

Last week’s Torah portion concluded when Joseph accused his brothers of stealing his goblet and promised to enslave Benjamin. At the outset of Parashat Vayigash, Judah approaches Joseph, begging him to reconsider. (…) The Judah who approaches Joseph is markedly different from the Judah who seemed comfortable with the idea of selling Joseph into slavery and faking his death (Gen. 37:27).

At this holiday season, we are all eager, maybe more than ever before, to be able to gather with our loved ones. After an extended and ongoing world heath crisis, during which many of us have had to forgo family and other gatherings, we are desperate to reconnect and celebrate our times of light and joy together.

The time has come to teach the communities in which we have congregations what Reform Judaism provides them for their Jewish survival. This week’s Torah portion still teaches us about our defining principles: that our struggle with the past and then taking the risks of transformative change is how we became Israel, a community with a destiny of freedom and hope.

The time has come to teach the communities in which we have congregations what Reform Judaism provides them for their Jewish survival. This week’s Torah portion still teaches us about our defining principles: that our struggle with the past and then taking the risks of transformative change is how we became Israel, a community with a destiny of freedom and hope.

The word Vayetze, the first word of our Parasha, means to leave. But Rashi notices that the Torah does not use the word Vayelech, a word with a similar meaning, which it used to describe Abraham’s journey. As Rashi notes, Vayelech means to leave with one’s possessions and with great honor; Vayetze means to flee, taking nothing with you. Jacob fled for his life.

Water and wells enter into the imagination of the rabbis as metaphors for spiritual sustenance, love, peace, and as a way to tap into the wellspring of God.