The Hebrew Identity

As Yaakov returns back home to his land, he and his family are met with new challenges that ultimately transform them into the nation of Israel.

Before becoming Israel, Yaakov had to first spend several years in exile learning to be more like Esav.

How do the character traits of Esav and Yaakov find expression in the rival civilizations they produced?

Following her death, Sarah's powerful legacy continued to influence Avraham and play a major role in their family's development into a nation.

What can the dynamics between Yitzḥak and Yishmael in Parshat Vayeira teach us about Israel’s ideal relationship with the Muslim world?

How the leader of a universal spiritual movement learned to reorient himself to the understanding that his goals for humanity could only be achieved through the vehicle of a nation in a specific land.

Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator's decision to destroy humankind? Could there be more to this story?

It's important to recognize the internal development of the Hebrew tribes from the Exodus from Egypt to the Brit Sinai and consecration of the Mishkan.

If Dan is the extreme expression of Yosef in the same way that Shimon is of Yehuda, what was the importance of appointing tribesmen of Yehuda and Dan to lead the construction of the Mishkan?

A mistake that nearly had catastrophic results for the entire people of Israel ultimately revealed Moshe's true greatness as a national leader.

By submerging individual identity into the collective Hebrew nation, the kohanim work to cleanse the children of Israel from all transgressions and to inspire the people with a powerful show of kedusha.

What can the Mishkan teach us about the ways Divine revelation is channeled into our world?

How should we understand the difference between the Written Torah and the Oral Torah within the context of Israel's identity and development?

Why were the Hebrews so surprised by the sudden realization that they would receive the Torah as a set of laws & a mission for the rest of humanity?

Between the smashing of Egypt's military at the Sea of Reeds and the war against Amalek at Rephidim, the Hebrews had to develop a national perception of emuna in preparation for receiving the Torah.

What were the necessary steps for Israel to develop a national consciousness ahead of leaving Egypt?

The ten plagues were part of a deliberate process to educate not only Egypt and Israel but also humanity.

After despairing of a slave revolt, did Moshe seek to create a new nation in Midian to replace Israel?

What are the individual contributions of each Hebrew tribe to Israel's national collective?

Did Yosef use the famine to bring his family down to Egypt in hopes of implementing an alternative approach to the Hebrew mission in the Diaspora?

Did Yosef seek to transform Egypt into a civilization built on Hebrew values that would repair the world?

As internal conflict over the Hebrew clan's direction leads to tragic consequences for Yosef and Yehuda, each must discover his own messianic potential.

As Yaakov returns back home to his land, he and his family are met with new challenges that ultimately transform them into the nation of Israel.

Before becoming Israel, Yaakov had to first spend several years in exile learning to be more like Esav.

How do the character traits of Esav and Yaakov find expression in the rival civilizations they produced?

Following her death, Sarah's powerful legacy continued to influence Avraham and play a major role in their family's development into a nation.

What can the dynamics between Yitzḥak and Yishmael in Parshat Vayeira teach us about Israel’s ideal relationship with the Muslim world?

How the leader of a universal spiritual movement learned to reorient himself to the understanding that his goals for humanity could only be achieved through the vehicle of a nation in a specific land.

Why does the Torah use the Name that connotes Divine mercy rather than Divine judgement when telling of the Creator's decision to destroy humankind? Could there be more to this story?

There's a hidden understanding of our Torah that has yet to reach the English-speaking Jewish world.