Profs. Derek Penslar and Judith Bleich have documented how Jews serving in non-Jewish armies greatly divided rabbinic scholars. Some figures, including German scholars Rabbis Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888) and Moshe Glasner (1856-1924), were enthusiastic supporters...
After Jacob’s death, the brothers noticed something that made them suspect Joseph would take his revenge on them for selling him as a slave to Egypt (Genesis 50:15). What, exactly, they saw that made them worry is not mentioned in the text. Along comes the midrash to...
When Pharaoh hears that Joseph’s family will be joining him in Egypt, Pharaoh approves (Genesis 45:16). According to the classical medieval exegete Rabbi Ovadiah Seforno, what found favor in Pharaoh’s eyes was that with Joseph’s family united with him in Egypt he...
After Joseph interprets the dream of the chief cupbearer to Pharaoh and tells him that he will be released from prison and restored to his position, Joseph asks him to bring his case before Pharaoh since he was kidnapped from his homeland and brought to Egypt against...
In one of the most poignant scenes in the entire Bible, Jacob, confronted by the “proof” that his son Joseph must be dead, recoils in grief. He tears his clothes and goes into mourning (Genesis 37:34). His mourning is profound. His sons and daughter sought to comfort...
Jacob is mortified. His sons, Simon and Levi, surreptitiously entered Shekhem and slaughtered the population and despoiled the city: all in revenge for the seduction of their sister, Dinah. Having convinced the male members of the city including Hamor to circumcise...
For days, weeks, and months after the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, mourners, social activists, and concerned citizens flocked to the site where he was choked for an agonizing eight minutes and forty-six seconds. The street where George...
The Zohar (Bereshit 264a) imputes different character traits to each of the patriarchs. Abraham is said to embody love, Isaac is said to embody valor, and Jacob is said to embody truth. This is all very strange. It is hard to reconcile Abraham’s love with his...
The last we hear of Yishmael he was banished against the better judgment of his father Abraham and takes up residence in the Wilderness of Paran (Genesis 21:21). Suited to his wild tendencies (Genesis 16:12) Yishmael becomes a bowman and seems to lead an irresolute...
After visiting Abraham, two of the three angels make their way to Sodom. The narrative tells us they arrive in the evening (Genesis 19:1). Both RaShI and Rabbi Ovadiah Seforno explain that in terms of distance covered, the angels could have arrived earlier but they...