What is Faith? As we start the book of Shemot, let us delve into its general message and central theme. The Parasha begins with the descent of Yaakov Avinu and his family to Egypt. They were only a small group when they arrived, but in the course of their sojourn there for two hundred and […]

Share the pain!     The Gemara Sotah (11a) tells us that Pharaoh had three advisers: Yitro, Iyov and Bilam. Pharaoh wished to decide how to deal with the Israelite “problem”. He sought the opinion of each of his three advisers.   Bilam was an evil man and relished the prospect of eradicating the Jewish […]

Women’s Liberation At the conclusion of the Book of Bereshit, our forefather, Yaakov, blessed each of his sons before he died. Yosef, who merited becoming second-in-command of Egypt, was blessed by his father to have special favour in the eyes of all who beheld him. Our sages teach  us that the reason why Yosef merited […]

Parasha insights   As we complete the first book of the Torah we are left with a subconscious message hinted throughout the Parasha. It all begins with the name of this week’s Parasha – Vayechi. In essence the Parasha relates Yaakov’s last years and final blessing to his children. After passing away and a national […]