by RabbiOlivier | Dec 16, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayechi Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 Conditioned Happiness Last week as I studied the Torah portion, after reading numerous rabbinic commentaries, an image emerged of Jacob’s soul-to soul connection to his son, Benjamin. Upon reading...
by RabbiOlivier | Dec 6, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayigash Genesis 44:18 – 47:27 Joseph: Accountability and Free Will Chapter 45 is pivotal in the Book of Genesis. Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, who had been second-in-command of Egypt for the past nine years, reveals himself...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 22, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayeishev Genesis 37:1 – 40:23 Embracing Imbalance Vayeishev, the name and first word of this week’s Torah portion has caused much ink to be spilled. Vayeishev is translated in English to mean: “And he settled,”...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 15, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayish’lach Genesis 32:4 – 36:43 Awakening Beyond Silence One of the first revelations that meditation allows is one’s encounter with the unbelievable noise which lies within us, right behind our closed eyes. As if by...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 8, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Vayeitzei Genesis 28:10 – 32:3 God Was in This Place There is one verse in this week’s Torah portion which encompasses the entirety of the Kabbalistic endeavor: “Waking from his sleep, Jacob said, ‘Truly, the Eternal is in this place, and I did...
by RabbiOlivier | Nov 1, 2013 | Adult Learning, Torah Reflections
Toledot Genesis 25:19 – 28:9 Breaking Free From The Great Teachers At the opening of our Torah portion, we find Isaac pleading with God, in the presence of his barren wife Rebecca, that she might — after twenty years of waiting...
