tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64564777823077671332011-07-31T03:10:41.346-05:00Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-12391232607757789602009-12-10T19:36:00.001-06:002009-12-10T19:47:27.533-06:00

The reading of Vayeishev is full of plot twists and turns. Indeed the title itself is ironic. Yaakov settled down. The text hints that after his adventures with Lavan and reconciliation with Esav, Yaakov planned to enjoy his elder years as chairman of a major sheep herding enterprise. Little did he suspect what fate had in store. This reading begins the longest drama of our ancestors in the Torah

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-10967724277934805652009-12-03T21:19:00.002-06:002009-12-03T21:20:53.575-06:00

In Vayishlach, Yaakov returns from Charan a wealthy and established man, blessed with a large family. After two decades he has finally stood up to his conniving father-in-law who backs down from a confrontation. Now entering Canaan, Yaakov sends a celestial reconnaissance to size up Esav. Why? This is his older twin brother from who he finessed the rights of the first born. Does he wonder where

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-66151690465828778982009-11-26T21:01:00.004-06:002009-11-26T21:14:43.501-06:00

We follow the path of Yaakov as he heads out to Charan in search of a wife. His trip begins with a noteworthy revelation and he has another revelation before he heads back home. What is intriguing is the angst of the pregnancies of the latest Matriarchs. The drama certainly evokes the experiences of the earlier Matriarchs. We can hardly forget the stress endured by Sarah, the first Matriarch.

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-63760306860242609442009-11-22T20:24:00.022-06:002009-11-23T17:04:16.280-06:00

Having just completed the drama of the righteous patriarch Yitzchak (יצחק) in parshas Toldos, we ponder the etymology of his name: ‘he laughed’. Having a name associated with laughter is great, isn’t it? What is the essence of צחק  that earned Yitzchak this handle? Certainly, we will not ignore the fact that this name was divinely ordained (Bereishis 17.19). In parshas Lech Lecha, Avraham has a

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-44353770731829692602009-11-19T20:29:00.002-06:002009-11-19T20:30:27.279-06:00

In our continuing survey to understand the dysfunctional families of Bereishis, Toldos raises the bar. This week, we are presented with four personalities that carry on as ships in the night: None seem to grasp what the other is doing. Yet, there is certainly a method to this madness. Yitzchak, the former sacrifice, is the patriarch du jour. He is his father’s son as revealed not only by his

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-62952745584263552252009-11-12T19:21:00.011-06:002009-11-12T20:23:19.366-06:00

The pivotal sidrah Chaye Sarah is usually summarized as the final days of Avraham as he winds up his worldly affairs. To be sure, the three chapters neatly contain three important events in the final days of Avraham: Chapter 23: Laying the late Sarah to rest Chapter 24: Finding a wife for Yitzchak Chapter 25: Finding a wife for himself? Yes, Avraham re-marries in a much lesser known union. Is

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-7348360124514598392009-11-05T21:47:00.001-06:002009-11-05T21:50:25.325-06:00

In parshas Lech Lechah, we followed the tension between Avraham, Sarah and Hagar. This week, in Vayeirah, they are at it again. As we rejoin the trio, a bundle of joy has arrived in la casa de Avraham. There is a bris, a naming (Yitzchok) and a weaning ceremony. All is great until Sarah espies Hagar’s son misbehaving (cf. Rashi, 21.9). In the midst of the rejoicing, Sarah turns to Avraham (again

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-18180190495717331252009-10-28T22:18:00.002-05:002009-10-29T19:35:14.671-05:00

The thread of the dysfunctional families of Bereishis continues. The story of Sarah the Matriarch (née Sarai) seems sensational and pitiful. The Torah first informs us of Sarah’s infertility at the end of parshas Noach (Bereishis 11.30). Textually, this precedes the biblical wedding announcement of Avraham and Sarah. We can almost sense trouble brewing. Fast forward five chapters to the end of

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-72739857216214105222009-10-24T22:00:00.010-05:002009-10-28T06:43:27.435-05:00

This morning we came across Bereishis 9.20:  וַיָּחֶל נֹחַ אִישׁ הָאֲדָמָה וַיִּטַּע כָּרֶם: And Noach began a master of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. ...or at least this seems the literal translation. Of course, Torah analysis is not always what it seems. And as is so often the case, we ran out of time. Rashi renders it this way (citing the midrash):  ויחל: עשה עצמו חולין, שהיה לו לעסוק

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-28157147470791979432009-10-22T20:18:00.003-05:002009-10-23T06:15:17.544-05:00

When we consider parshas Noach, we quickly realize that for the most part, this portion is about Noach (Noah) the man. Oh sure, there’s a flood and a collapsed skyscraper and much more and yet...we strive to analyze his unusual personality. Usually, our focus is on page one: “Noach was a righteous man, perfect in his generation; Noach walked with God. (Bereishis 6.9)” Noach had great

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6456477782307767133.post-73646632283439001792009-10-12T20:07:00.008-05:002009-10-22T20:22:33.634-05:00

As a whole, Bereishis the book lays the foundation of the evolution of the Bnei Yisroel, the Nation of Israel. It does not escape us (or Rashi for that matter) that Bereishis is nearly all narrative and almost bereft of commandments. Is the Torah not a book of laws?  When we take a cursory survey of Bereishis, we find murder, mayhem, kidnap, deception, immorality, favoritism, vandalism and the

Lee Winerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15605991461243332737noreply@blogger.com6