in our study of Parshat Vayechi, we see how Ya’akov’s life is reframed beyond the classic good/bad mentality. And Rebbe Nachman tells us a bit about how to get there.

Parshat Vayigash – the cliffhanger concludes with the dramatic unmasking of Yosef. But it could only happen when the brothers, and especially Yehuda, could do their own work.

Going over Torah from Shabbat Metzorah.  Thinking about two houses – one in Egypt where the ezov is on the door to keep evil out, and the house in metzorah where the ezov is used to get the evil out of the house itself. And more.

The incense is a gift from the angel of death.  It was given to Moshe when he embraced his full humanness.  When we embrace all the wonderfully flawed aspects of being a human,  we can conquer death.  parshat korach ketoret all of me

Doing the work to get invested in something that I am not naturally committed to – this is the highest level.  The ability to make the mitzvah precious to me makes me precious to G-d.   Only this movement TOWARD Hashem creates attachment.  

The penitent metzorah receives 7 sprinkles of blood – why seven?  Someone who has been in contact with a dead body need be sprinkled only one time, but on two separate days.  What is unique about the metzorah?

Parshat b’shalach provides a series of opportunities to learn about relationship – if we are ready to.  They are all meant to show us that manna doesn’t just fall from heaven, water doesn’t just come from a rock, and seas don’t just split.

Sinai was a peak moment, a peak behind the veil.  But it was not meant to last forever.  It was meant to be one of two poles of reality.  How do we stay connected to it, and stay connected to the two poles at once?

Chanukkah and the Yosef story are always intertwined.  This year we explore how Hanukkah and the Tzaddik can help us see what is and also what could be.   Yosef helps the brothers see who they are and then see what is possible, and Hanukkah helps us look at our own lives in order to truly [...]

What makes something an ‘up’ moment or a ‘down’ moment?  Follow the theme through Parshat Vaeyshev for an interesting and enlightening conclusion.