by Sarah Gazitt | Mar 28, 2025 | Torah Reflections
Pekudei Exodus 38:21 – 40:38 In the final verses of Exodus, the Israelites build all the many pieces of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, which Moses will assemble at a later time. The S’fat Emet, i.e. the Alter Rebbe of Ger, comments that many of these verses echo,...
by Sarah Gazitt | Jan 31, 2025 | Torah Reflections
Bo Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 Parashat Bo opens with the last four plagues to befall Egypt as part of the Divine liberation plan. Plague after plague, Pharaoh first reluctantly acquiesces to Moses’ latest plea to let his people go and then changes his mind when God...
by Sarah Gazitt | Jan 27, 2025 | Torah Reflections
VaEira Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Parashat VaEira opens with a compelling affirmation: “God (Elohim) spoke to Moses and said to him: ‘I Am the Eternal (YHVH)’” (Ex. 6:2). I often wonder exactly how people understand this powerful statement. That opening phrase, “God...
by Sarah Gazitt | Jan 3, 2025 | Torah Reflections
Vayigash Genesis 44:18 – 47:27 In the middle of this parashah comes the critical moment when Jacob/Israel and his clan descend into Egypt, setting the stage for what will unfold next: enslavement, suffering, redemption, and revelation. Following their encounter...
by Sarah Gazitt | Dec 27, 2024 | Torah Reflections
Mikeitz Genesis 41:1-44:17 One of my favorite verses in the whole of Torah is in this week’s parashah. Joseph has just been brought up from jail to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, which the court diviners could not explain. “Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘… I have heard this...
by Sarah Gazitt | Nov 24, 2024 | Torah Reflections
Chayei Sarah Genesis 23:1-25:18 The unfolding of the biblical narrative brings us to the close of one chapter—that of Abraham and Sarah’s journey—and the opening of a new one—that of their son Isaac and soon-to-be wife: Rebekah. After Sarah dies, Abraham sends his...
