The Parasha with Rabbi Dweck

The Children of Israel are finally free, and no sooner does that happen that God gives them commandments (20 in this parasha!). One of the first is the commandment of Matza, imploring us to watch the matzot. In this episode we consider the meaning behind this charge and how it connects to freedom, responsibility, and our own agency in life.

Moses mission of liberation is in full swing as he boldly stands before Pharaoh demanding that he free the Israelite slaves. His power grows and Pharaoh's wains. In this episode we look at how responsibility connects with the power that comes with freedom. We also look at a significant event in the news of this week that directly pertains to the issue.

Before Jacob dies he calls his sons to his death bed and speaks to them of his final thoughts about them and their future. King David does the same with Solomon in the haftara before he dies. The theme of legacy runs strong at the close of Genesis and we explore its elements and our modern responsibilities with it in this week's episode.

The Children of Israel finally come together in this parasha and on the surface it looks like rifts are reconciled between Yosef and his brothers. Yet, there are still unfinished differences between them. In this episode we look at the haftara in which the prophet Ezekiel proclaims that there will come a day when the core arguments within the nation of Israel will find resolution a

Yosef is set as Viceroy of Egypt. He is presented by Pharaoh as the very symbol of Egypt. All is going well for him when suddenly...his brothers show up. He must address historic rifts and unresolved conflicts and consider who he is in light of all that he finds around him. This parasha is always read during Hanuka. In this episode we look at the complementary aspects of the Hanuk

At 17 Yosef seems to lack basic tact and awareness of his social and circumstantial surroundings. It is so severe that he ends up being sold into slavery by his own brothers. But Yosef goes through profound hardship and deeply adjusts the way he is in the world. In this episode we examine these lessons and changes and how the difficulties he experienced triggered them.

In this episode we examine the episode of Dina's rape by Shekhem. We explore the response of Yaakob as well as his sons and what we learn about fundamental differences between their philosophies. We look at how those approaches manifest within us today and what we might do.

Yaakob has a dream in which God commits to keeping with him as he leaves the land and promises to bring him back to the land. We explore what this means for us, his descendants in our current lives.

Esav and Yaakob are twins. Yet, Esav the elder famously sells his birthright to Yaakob. In this episode we explore why Esav may have done that, and why Yaakob was better equipped to hold it.

After Sarah dies, Abraham makes his first purchase of land in Canaan. It is a burial plot for his family. When making the purchase, he refers to himself as ger vetoshab - a sojourner and a citizen. These terms seem to be contradictory. What could he have meant? In this episode we explore the meaning of the term and why it was later used in several instances when speaking about esta