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Resource Articles

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Bereshit

Parashat Bereshit

Parashat Noach

Parashat Lech Lecha

• Finished and Unfinished Journeys, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin. Rabbi Goldin explores the concept that Avraham continued Terach’s journey, and suggests that Avraham’s greatness is rooted in his persistence and perseverance.
• Grow Up! A Religious Imperative, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm. Rabbi Lamm characterizes the commandment to Avraham to leave his childhood home as an imperative to develop maturity, and explores the meaning of maturity and its manifestations in Avraham’s story.
• Gerut, Avdut, and Innuy: The Covenantal Formula in Go Forth and Learn: A Passover Haggadah, Rabbi David Silber. Rabbi Silber interprets the promise of exile and slavery in brit bein habetarim as a prerequisite to becoming a nation of compassion.
• A Palace in Flames, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Sacks explores the interpretations of Avraham’s search for God, and what they teach us about Avraham’s moral legacy.
• Perspectives on the Avot and Imahot, Rabbi Avishai David. Rabbi David explores the concept of maasei avot siman lebanim and different approaches to understanding the actions of the avot and imahot.
• Abraham and the 1960’s: Technocracy and the Journey Inward, Sam Glauber. The author explores Abraham’s identity as a seeker who chafes against a technocractic, progress-oriented society.

Parashat Vayera

• Lot: Hero or Villain?, Eldad Zamir, Alei Etzion Vol. 10, Tishrei 5761.  The author explores Lot’s personality and evolution over the course of his story.
• The Binding of Isaac, Rabbi Mois Navon, Hakirah Vol. 17 Summer 2014.  Rabbi Navon offers an interpretation of the meaning of akeidat Yitzchak in the individual’s avodat Hashem.  
• Theological Issues in Sefer Bereishit: The Akeida, Rav Chaim Navon.  Rav Navon explores theological and moral issues in understanding the akeidah. 
• And Sarah Died, Dr. Yehuda Gellmann, Tradition Vol. 32 No. 1 Fall 1997.  Dr. Gellman explores the different experience of the akeidah for Avraham and for Sarah, and the root of the difference.
• The Patron Saint of Rabbis’ Kids, Rabbi Elli Fischer.  Rabbi Fischer explores the meaning of Yitzchak’s experience as the son of Avraham Avinu. 
• Rebuilding a Future When our World Comes Crashing Down, Dr. Ezra Sivan.  Rabbi Sivan interprets the stories of Lot’s daughters, Tamar, and Rut as a yibum triangle which teaches psychological and religious insight into rebuilding after one’s life narrative has been disrupted. 
• Lot’s Wife Was Never Salt (and Why That Highlights the Greatness of Abraham), Rabbi Mark Glass. Rabbi Glass explores the story of Sedom’s destruction to understand the moral difference between Lot’s wife and Avraham and their differing concerns for the city of Sedom.  

Parashat Chayyei Sarah

• Halakhic Morality, pp. 193-207, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. In this section, the Rav describes the notion of different religious styles and personalities. This idea connects to Chazal’s concept that Parashat Hayyei Sarah teaches us the importance of learning from the conversations and everyday life of the avot (יפה שיחתן של עבדי בתי אבות מתורתן של בנים)
• A Tribute to the Rebbetzin of Talne, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. The Rav describes the concept of torat imekha, which represents the legacy of Sarah Imenu.
• Biblical Type-Scenes and the Uses of Convention in The Art of Biblical Narrative, Dr. Robert Alter. Dr. Alter explores Biblical betrothal scenes at wells, analyzing how the use of this type-scene contributes to our understanding of the relationships and personalities described in each narrative.

Parashat Toledot

• Rivka: The Enigma Behind the Veil, Dr. Esther Shkop, Tradition Vol. 35 No. 3 Fall 2002. Dr. Shkop offers a new understanding of Rivka’s behavior and motivation in Parashat Toldot.
• The Importance of Trust, Rabbi Daniel Yolkut. Rabbi Yolkut explores the lack of communication between Rivka and Yitzchak about the prophecy that foretells Yaakov’s and Esav’s destinies, and what it teaches us about trust and fear of stigma.

Parashat Vayetze

• Yemei Zikaron, pp. 62-82, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. The Rav explores the personalities of Rachel and Leah, and of their descendants, as different paradigms of religious experience and leadership.
• Biblical Type-Scenes and the Uses of Convention in The Art of Biblical Narrative, Dr. Robert Alter. Dr. Alter explores Biblical betrothal scenes at wells, analyzing how the use of this type-scene contributes to our understanding of the relationships and personalities described in each narrative.
•  Why Did Isaac Love Esau?, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. Rabbi Sacks suggests that Yitzchak loved Esav not despite Esav’s character, but because of it.
• Did Yaakov Deal Justly With Lavan?, Rav Yaakov Medan. Rav Medan explores the interactions between Yaakov and Lavan to understand whether Yaakov’s actions were justified, and to uncover messages for the reader about the Torah’s standards of fairness between employers and employees.
• Midrash, Miracles, and Motherhood: The Birth of Dinah and the Definition of Maternity, Tzarich Iyun L’Dinah, Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman. Rabbi Reichman explores how midrashic interpretation of the story of the birth of Dinah can be applied to contemporary halakhic discussion of new forms of reproductive technology.
• The Dudaim: Friendship Between Sisters, Rabbi David Silverberg. Rabbi Silverberg suggests interpreting the story of the dudaim as reflecting the closeness of Leah’s and Rachel’s relationship.

Parashat Vayishlach

• Confrontation, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. The Rav interprets Yaakov’s story as representative of the dual identity of a Jew as a member of general society and of the covenantal community.
• Biblical Narratives and the status of Enemy Civilians in Wartime, Rabbi Yitzchak Blau, Tradition Vol. 39 No. 4 Winter 2006. Rabbi Blau explores Jewish values relating to war and attacks on civilians, based in part on the narrative of Shechem.
• Jacob’s Silence and the Rape of Dinah, Rabbi Ari Silbermann. Rabbi Silbermann suggests that Yaakov’s reaction to Dinah’s rape reflects his experience of secondary trauma.

Parashat Vayeshev

• The Maternal Effects on the Twelve Tribes of Israel, Rabbi Nachman Cohen, Hakirah Vol. 13 Spring 2012. Rabbi Cohen proposes a theory that the personalities of Yaakov’s twelves sons were “determined by the disposition and perspective of their mothers at the time of their birth.”
• Yemei Zikaron, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, pp. 66-82. The Rav explores the personalities of the sons of Yaakov, with particular attention to the contrast between the nature and leadership of Yehuda and Yosef.
• We Will Get Better, We Must Get Better, Rabbanit Rookie Billet. In this powerful, personal reflection, Rabbanit Billet describes the loss of her baby daughter to SIDS and how she found religious and emotional strength and meaning in the wake of her loss. Parashat Vayeshev describes two different reactions to the loss of children, that of Yaakov and that of Yehuda; this article can help students explore the ways in which such devastating loss is transformative in different ways for different people. The article is published in To Mourn a Child, edited by Rabbi Jeffrey Saks and Rabbi Joel B. Wolowelsky.
• Of Deceptions and Conceptions: Rereading Tamar in Light of Rivkah, Sarah Golubtchik. The author explores the parallels between the stories of Rivka and Tamar in order to better understand Tamar’s character and Yehuda’s transformation.The Maternal Effects on the Twelve Tribes of Israel, Rabbi Nachman Cohen, Hakirah Vol. 13 Spring 2012. Rabbi Cohen proposes a theory that the personalities of Yaakov’s twelves sons were “determined by the disposition and perspective of their mothers at the time of their birth.”

Parashat Miketz

Parashat Vayigash

Parashat Vayechi