Beshalach (As He Sent) – Exodus 13:17 – 17:16

by Kim Troup | Feb 2, 2023 | Shabbat Shalom

A Nation of Slaves is Transformed This week’s Torah portion begins with the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt and ends with the war against Amalek.  And war is a theme that runs through this week’s portion in a very interesting way.  The portion...

Vayechi (And He [Jacob] Lived) – Genesis 47:28 – 50:26

by Kim Troup | Jan 5, 2023 | Shabbat Shalom, Uncategorized

Jacob’s Return to the Land of Israel In this week’s portion, we finish the book of Genesis with the conclusion of the story of Joseph and his brothers– the brothers and Jacob are all in Egypt, Jacob blesses his children before his death and the book closes with...

Miketz (The End) – Genesis 41:1 – 44:17

by Bonnie Calender | Dec 22, 2022 | Shabbat Shalom

Finding unity on the brink of the abyss In this week’s Torah portion, we continue the story of Joseph in Egypt. The portion begins with Joseph’s rise to power, thanks to his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream. He is given full responsibility for...

Vayeshev (And He (Jacob) Settled) – Genesis 37:1 – 40:23

by Kim Troup | Dec 15, 2022 | Shabbat Shalom

When brothers turn against each other This week’s portion begins the story of Joseph. We learn that Jacob favors Joseph and buys him a striped coat, which results in the brothers’ terrible jealousy of him. Joseph is introduced to us as a dreamer, and as he...

Reflections on the Torah Portion of the Week

by Kim Troup | Feb 2, 2012 | Reflections from Israel

January 2008    The weekly Torah portion that is read in the synagogue every Shabbat morning is actually a section of the Five Books of Moses that becomes part of a Jew’s entire week. Even Elitzur, still in nursery school, has a Rabbi come in every week to give his...