So many of us grew up and still sing the words of Maoz Tzur, a hymn probably written in the 13th century, at a time…
David LazarDecember 26, 2019
I've been writing about key words in the last few portions of the Torah. This week I would like to focus upon two key motifs…
David LazarDecember 18, 2019
That same night he arose, and taking his two wives, his two maidservants, and his eleven children, he crossed the ford of the Yabbok. After…
David LazarDecember 11, 2019
One of our rabbinic traditions (Vayikra Rabbah 7:3) stipulates that a child’s biblical education should begin with the book of Leviticus: “Let the pure ones…
David LazarDecember 4, 2019
Yitzhak pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord responded to his plea, and his wife Rivkah…
David LazarNovember 27, 2019
Genesis 23:2 Sarah died in Kiryat Arba - now Hevron - in the land of Canaan; And Abraham proceeded/came to mourn for Sarah and…
David LazarNovember 20, 2019
Last week, we saw some pretty poor behavior on the part of Sarai, Avram and even God. It was, after all, Sarai's idea to give…
David LazarNovember 13, 2019
This week’s Torah portion contains one of the more challenging tales of our ancestors and how we might NOT want to learn from them how…
David LazarNovember 6, 2019
Tucked toward the end of this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Noah, is a wonderful example of narrative artistry, the story of the tower of…
David LazarOctober 30, 2019
