Parashat Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) “Let my people go, that they may worship me.” (Exodus 10:3) Rabbi Joseph Telushkin aptly writes, “Perhaps the most famous political demand in all history is the one Moses directs at Pharaoh: ‘Let my people go!’ In the...
In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover. (Exodus 12:11) So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their...
But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as YHWH had said (Exodus 8:15) True transformation of the heart (salvation) is never be the result of repentance motivated by selfish interest. Every...
This is Jacob’s dying request. Jacob was confident of the promise of God represented by the Promised Land. Even here, in Egypt, Jacob’s heart longs for the fulfillment of God’s promise to him, his fathers, and his sons. Things were good in Egypt...
The Benedictus (the title being derived from the first word of the song “Blessed” in Latin: Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel), found in Luke 1:68-80, is traditionally read during the Advent season celebrating events surrounding the coming of Jesus...
With that he embraced his brother Benjamin around the neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. He kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; only then were his brothers able to talk to him. (JPS, Genesis 45:14-15) These verses from parashat...
I’m currently reading parashat vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27). What an incredible story. This story, as the culmination of the various patriarchal episodes, has its finger on the pulse of the theological message, or “sermon”, of the book of...
The story of Moses is rich with lessons of leadership. As a leader, Moses exemplifies, patience, grace, justice, discipline, charisma, theological stimulation, fidelity, and the list goes on. There are other critical dynamics of Mosaic leadership...
“My Lord and my God!” What a statement for Thomas, or any person for that matter, to make. I find the occasion for Thomas’ confession of Jesus’ divinity interesting. Of all the time that Thomas spent by Jesus’ side while he taught, healed and even...
An Exegetical-Theological Analysis of Philippians 2:6-11[1] 6 who, although in the form of God existed, did not count equality with God something to be grasping at, 7 but emptied himself[2], taking the form of a servant, in becoming as the likeness...