Shabbat - 12/01/07 (21 Kislev 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Vayeishev (Genesis 37:1-40:23). Topics in Vayeishev: The chronicles of Jacob and his offspring, Joseph’s dream, The intensified hatred, Joseph’s second dream, Joseph is sent to visit his brothers, Reuben saves Joseph from the plot to kill him, Joseph is sold, The version told to Jacob, Judah and Tamar: The roots of the Messiah and the Israelite monarchy, Judah’s sons marry Tamar but die for their sin, The moral basis for the union of Tamar and Judah, Tamar’s pregnancy, Tamar bears twins, Joseph in Egypt, Potiphar’s wife slanders Joseph, The cupbearer and the baker: Their dreams and Joseph’s interpretations For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 11/24/07 (14 Kislev 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43). Topics in Vayishlach: Esau advances to attack Jacob, Military preparations, Prayer, The tribute, The struggle with the angel, The prohibition of eating the tendon of an animal’s thigh, The encounter, The parting, Jacob arrives in Shechem, Dinah’s abduction, Jacob’s family learns of the outrage, The deception, Simeon and Levi decimate Shechem, Jacob journeys to Beth-el, The deaths of Rebecca and Deborah, G-d blesses and renames Jacob, The birth of Benjamin and death of Rachel, Reuben’s error and partial vindication, Jacob and Isaac are reunited, Isaac’s death, The chronicles of Esau, Esau separates himself from Jacob, The Seirite genealogy, The Edomite kings For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 11/17/07 (7 Kislev 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3). Topics in Vayeitze: Jacob’s flight and his vision at Moriah, Jacob meets Rachel, Jacob contracts to marry and is deceived, Laban substitutes Leah for Rachel, Leah bears four sons, Rachel is fulfilled through Bilhah, The dudaim, Leah’s last three children, Rachel conceives the birth of Joseph, Jacob wishes to leave, but concludes an employment contract with Laban, Laban’s new deceit, The decision to flee from Laban, Jacob wins the consent of his wives, Jacob’s flight, Laban’s pursuit and G-d’s warning, The confrontation of Jacob and Laban, Laban proposes a treaty For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Shabbat - 11/10/07 (29 Cheshvan 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Toledot (Genesis 25:19-28:9). Topics in Toledot: Rebecca’s barrenness and pregnancy, The birth of Jacob and Esau, The personalities emerge, Sale of the birthright, A famine forces Isaac to Philistia, Isaac in Gerar, The prophetic dispute over the wells, G-d assures Isaac, Abimelech reaffirms the treaty, Esau marries, Isaac’s decision to bless Esau, Rebecca’s scheme, Jacob comes to Isaac, Jacob gets Isaac’s blessing, Esau arrives for his blessings, Esau’s hatred of Jacob, Jacob is told to flee to Laban, The admonition against marrying a Canaanite; the Abrahamitic blessing is conveyed to Jacob, Esau marries the daughter of Ishmael For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

The Tanach (mistakenly known as the "Old Testament") is made up of the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Tanach was canonized in approximately 500 BCE by the Men of the Great Assembly. The Tanach was not originally broken into chapter and verses. The idea of chapter and verses - as well as the breaking apart of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles - is a leftover from Christians in the 13th century. Before the study of Torah a brocha (blessing) is said in which the person thanks G-d for giving the Jews Torah. There have been many rabbis who have written commentaries on the Torah. Any complete study of the Torah needs to include some commentary from these sages.

Shabbat - 11/03/07 (22 Cheshvan 5768)

For your local Shabbat Candle-lighting times, please go here. This week's reading is -- Chaya Sarah (Genesis 23:1-25:18). Topics in Chaya Sarah: Sarah’s death, and purchase of a burial site, Finding a wife for Isaac, Eliezer’s criteria, Rebecca is equal to the test, Laban, The recapitulation, Isaac and Rebecca, Abraham’s genealogy For more information about this week's Parsha, please visit these sites. Orthodox Union Chabad Aish HaTorah United Synagogues of Conservative Judaism Union for Reform Judaism Jewish Reconstructionist Federation