I’m not a geologist, nor do I pretend to be one. But I do think that we can draw some fascinating insights into the Holy Language by...

Parshas וַיֵצֵא All along the Watchtower מִצְפֶּה: watchtower צָפוּי: foreseen צָפוּן: hidden צָפוֹן: north מְצַפֶּה: expect צַףְ: float...

Article abstract: The Torah in Parashat Vayishlach recounts the violation of Dinah Bat Yaakov by Shechem Ben Hamor. Then, Scripture...

The Gift of Giving Ahead of the epic meeting of brothers, Jacob sent his older brother Esau quite a generous tribute, consisting of 550...

A “messenger of G-d” refers to either an angel or a prophet, but what about a “messenger of Jacob”? When Jacob sent a message of peace to...

For the illui neshamah of my father, Dovid Yitzchak ben Tzvi Moshe, on his yahrtzeit, the thirteenth of Kislev. Parshas וַיִשְׁלַח Sweet...

בר’ מ:ח-וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵלָיו חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם יוֹסֵף הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים סַפְּרוּ נָא לִי....

Olives and Oil During these days of Chanuka, everybody is talking about the miracle of the Menorah and the jug of shemen zayit zach (pure...

When a very pregnant Rivka consulted with the prophets Shem and Ever to find out what is in store for her unborn child, she was informed...

Parshasוַיֵשֵׁב Born to Fly/Break on through to the Other Side פָּרְחָה: fly פֶּרַח: flower פִּרְחֵי כְּהוּנָה: young kohanim אֶפְרוֹח:...

Article abstract: In the Torah portion Miketz, the word "חכם" (wise) appears for the first time in Scripture - used by Pharaoh to...

Playing with Fire When telling of the future downfall of the descendants of Esau, the prophet Ovadiah (Obadiah 1:18) refers to the House...

Parshas מִקֵץ How to Charm the Snake נִיחוּש: divination נַחְשׁוֹן: Nachshon נָחָשׁ: snake נְחוֹשֶׁת: copper נִיחוּשׁ: Divination...

Article abstract: Parashat Vayigash relates the emotional scene of Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers. With emotions often...

Speaking in Tongues In the Hebrew language, there are two different words for “language”—safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally these...

In the Hebrew language there are two different words for “language” — safa and lashon. If taken hyper-literally, these two words actually...

Parshasוַיִגַשׁ Pharaoh Exposed פַּרְעֹה: Pharaoh פָּרוּעַ: exposed פֹּטִי פֶרַע: Potiphar לְמַפְרֵעַ: retroactive, to nullify פֹּרֵעַ:...

Article abstract for Parashat Vayechi: On his deathbed, Jacob asks his beloved son Joseph to swear that he will bury him in the land of...

Upon his deathbed, Yaakov bequeaths to his favorite son Joseph the city of Shechem “which I took from the Amorites with my sword and my...

Parshas וַיְחִי Hashem’s Escort — The Greatest Chesed לְוָיָה: funeral לֵוִי: Levi לִוְיָתָן: Livyasan לֹוֶה\מַלְוֶה: loan לְוָיָה:...