Torah Commentary

The divine name that God tells Moses at the burning bush expresses the different and evolving relationship that God has with every individual.

Shifra and Puah's defiance of Pharaoh's decree and allegiance to God set the stage for the liberation of the Israelites.

The debate over how Moses killed the Egyptian has implications for the Jewish response to political and military power.

By listing the names of Jacob's family members who went into Egypt the Torah reminds us of the number of people who affect our lives.

Jacob inspires us to overcome our Esau-like desires for instant gratification and physical power.

Isaac and Rebecca provide us with two models of parenting--love dependent on a specific interaction and love that is unconditional.

God and Abram's covenant between the pieces raises issues of conditionality and obligation still relevant today.

Jacob's death provokes the latent fear in Joseph's brothers that Joseph bears a grudge against them and the desire to make peace with him.

Jacob and Pharaoh's brief interaction over Jacob's age raises many questions about the complex relationship between the two.

Joseph serves as a model of creating opportunities for repentance and forgiveness.