February 1, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha tells the story of the last three plagues, the preparations that the Bnei Yisrael needed to make in order to leave Mitzrayim, and the actual exodus itself. The first mitzvah mentioned in Sefer Shmot, and in fact, the first mitzvah given to the nation, appears in this parasha [12:2]: “This month shall […]

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January 25, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, God brings the first seven plagues upon the Egyptians through Moshe and Aharon, but Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to allow the Bnei Yisrael to leave. Twice in this parasha (6:12 and 30) Moshe says, “I am of uncircumcised lips.” In last week’s parasha, Moshe declared (4:10), “…for I am slow of speech and […]

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January 19, 2017 by Revital Finkel (Faculty and Staff)

Students in Pre-Kindergarten explored the concept of Identity over the course of the first semester. They began by defining identity as “who you really are.” While acknowledging that we are all constantly changing and growing, our study began by having the children look at the things that currently identify or represent them. We augmented our […]

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January 18, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This Shabbat, we begin reading the second of the five books of Moses: that of Shemot (Exodus). This book concentrates on the Jews’ enslavement in and freeing from Egypt and the beginnings of their wanderings in the wilderness, including the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. In this parasha, Bnei Yisrael become slaves to […]

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January 10, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

The book of Bereshit (Genesis) ends with the deathbed blessings of Yaakov to his sons. At least, they are traditionally referred to as blessings. However, a close look at them reveals otherwise (49:3-7): “Reuven, you are my firstborn… unstable as water, you will not excel because you went up to your father’s bed… Shimon and Levi… cursed […]

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January 4, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, prompting the entire family to move to Egypt, where Yosef reunites with his father, Yaakov. The list of the people who went down to Egypt as part of Yaakov’s family mentions only the men by name, with two exceptions: Deena, Yaakov’s daughter by Leah, and Serach, […]

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December 28, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and is appointed to implement Egypt’s anti-famine plan. This brings him into contact with his brothers again, as they come to Egypt to buy food. Yosef’s epithet is “HaTzaddik – the Righteous One.” This is an interesting appellation for a person who lorded his dreams over his brothers, […]

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December 20, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yosef’s dreams anger his brothers, and they sell him into slavery in Egypt, where he eventually ends up in prison, still interpreting others’ dreams. One could subtitle the last few parshiyot, and the next few, “Jews Behaving Badly.” In each parasha, we see our forefathers and foremothers behaving in ways that are, […]

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December 14, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov confronts Esav, wrestles with a “man” who blesses him by changing his name to Yisrael, loses his wife Rachel in childbirth, and experiences the trauma of the incident with his daughter Deena. Towards the end of Birkat Hamazon, Grace After Meals, we say, “As our ancestors Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov [and […]

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December 6, 2016 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Yaakov flees to his uncle Lavan’s household and lives there for several years, marrying Lavan’s daughters, Leah and Rachel, and establishing a large family. Yaakov gets very angry twice in this parasha. The first instance occurs in chapter 30, verse 2 (“Yaakov became very angry with Rachel…”). The second instance is in chapter […]

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