Egypt
The “Great Sabbath”
The Shabbat that precedes Pesach (Passover) is called ‘Shabbat HaGadol’ (the big/great Sabbath). There are several reasons for this. According to Jewish tradition, the first Shabbat HaGadol was the last Shabbat that the Jews were in...
Why Was the Laver Made From the Mirrors of the Women?
At the beginning of the Torah portion of Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20), the Torah again described the materials that were collected for use in creating the Tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-9). In the case of the laver, the Torah even describes the...
Matzah: Bread of Freedom or Bread of Affliction?
In preparation for the final devastating plague, the Hebrews prepared the Passover lamb. The offering, whose blood, painted on their doorposts, would protect them from the Angel of Death and whose meat would be eaten as the Passover...
Are the Israelites Guilty of Stealing the Egyptian’s Gold and Silver?
In 2003, about 3,300 years after the Hebrews left Egypt, Nabil Hilmy, dean of the faculty of law at Egypt’s Zagazig University, announced that he was suing the Jews for the gold and silver they took when they left Egypt. Calling the...
Were Shiphrah and Puah the First Righteous Gentiles?
While Israel was being blessedly prolific in Egypt and growing into a nation, Pharaoh ordered the midwives to kill the male Jewish babies. Shiphrah and Puah defied Pharaoh’s order and received God’s blessing for their courage. Their...
The Land of Goshen, Where Israel Became a Nation
When the house of Jacob went to Egypt, they were given the land of Goshen to settle (Genesis 45:10). The Children of Israel settled in Goshen for 430 years, growing from a clan of 70 into a great nation of 600,000. The Bible notes that...
The Portion of Vayechi
In this, the final portion of the book of Genesis, we read of Jacob’s blessings to his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, and his final passing and burial. The book concludes with Joseph’s final days, as well, and his death and enbalming...
The Portion of Vayigash
The portion of Vayigash sees Joseph revealing his true identity to his brothers, inviting his father and the rest of their family to join him in Egypt. Jacob brings his family to Joseph, and Joseph cares for them for the remainder of his...
Weekly Torah Portion: What’s in a Name?
The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. Pharaoh awakens one night from a terrifying dream, but none of the...
The Portion of Mikeitz
The portion of Mikeitz continues the story of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph successfully interprets Pharaoh's dream and is made viceroy over all of Egypt. Â He successfully steers the country through both abundance and famine, so that it becomes...
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Matzah: Bread of Freedom or Bread of Affliction?
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Are the Israelites Guilty of Stealing the Egyptian's Gold and Silver?
