Bereishit

Benjamin Barer traces the word Hevel through Jewish texts, showing how the use of the same word can teach us both about the wisdom of Kohelet we read this past Shabbat and the character of Hevel who we will read about in this week's Parashah.

Shlomo Zuckier on the mechanics of a midrashic motif.

Sam Borodach traces the role of clothing throughout the Joseph narrative.

Infertility figures as a tragic theme not only on Rosh Hashanah but also in biblical narrative and modern life. This morning, Yael Leibowitz writes lyrically on The Birthplace of Infertility.

The father heard the voice of God, Elli Fischer explains, but the son ends up with the blade on his neck.

Abraham’s participation in the war of the four kings against the five fits uncomfortably in the broader narrative of his life. Rabbi Mark Glass argues that this Abrahamic episode articulates a core Torah perspective on military might.

Batya Hefter uses the case of Isaac to illuminate how hasidic masters read the Bible.

David Fried offers a novel reading of the Akeidah.

Gavriel Lakser argues that the first two chapter of Genesis give us different insights into the character of God. The first chapter shows us a transcendent and omnipotent God, while the second shows us a God much more imminent and concerned for the lives of the creation. These two aspects are complimentary and mutually deepens our understanding of the human-God relationship.

Yisroel Ben-Porat analyzes a Midrash offering non-misogynistic takes on the original sin.