When Yitzchak parts ways with his parents after nearly being sacrificed, he goes on a journey to dig the selfsame wells, reflecting his father both literally and metaphorically. The trauma he has experienced never quite allows him to move on, and his vision is dimmed from the tears he has shed. Rabbi Emily Goldberg Winer discusses the importance of repetitive action to carry on a legacy, even when it brings great pain to do so.

Worldwide, many women’s groups have quickly transferred to online platforms, using the tools from years of steady perseverance against misogyny to face a pandemic-ridden world. Nomi Kaltmann reaches out to women across continents to hear how they create support systems and continue learning and prayer groups online.

In an effort to explain the berachah of ge’ulah, Rabbi Jeffrey Fox turns to the back of the gemara to the commentary of Rabbeinu Yonah’s students. Two explanations are brought to explain things, one being a master-servant relationship and one being faith and trust.

Chayei Sarah begins with a redundant phrase summarizing Sarah’s life, mentioning her age split by tens-places and the concept of years repeatedly. Myriam Ackermann-Sommer compiles a wide array of commentaries to explain why her life was split, and provides insight into individual growth while maintaining fidelity to the past.

The juxtaposition of redemption and request in tefillah seems arbitrary, but it is seen as a prerequisite and necessary part of the service. In this installment of the series, Rabbi Jeffrey Fox addresses why this is so, pulling in three different explanations from Rashi and assessing the distinctions between the opinions.

In this episode of The Straw Hat, Rabbi David Wolkenfeld and Rabbanit Goldie Guy discuss the legacy of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks in creating an understandable Judaism, the halakhic implications of defining cities through modern urban planning and finally the upcoming study of both stability through aggadah and living a good life through Bereishit.

In response to The Vagina Monologues, a group of five Orthodox women gather essays on Jewish women’s body image, sexuality and trauma, reflecting on the need for this collection in the interview.

The story of Yitzchak’s near-sacrifice is famous for its shocking lack of emotion on the part of Avraham. Especially notable is that this story contrasts the other stories read on Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur. Nonetheless, says Rabbanit Dalia Davis, this reaction is understandable, perhaps that of stoic, stunned silence; though not the most conducive, it is incredibly human.

The story of the destruction of Sedom and Amora, Sodom and Gomorrah, is deeply upsetting on many levels. Often overlooked, though, is the willingness of Lot to hand over his daughters to men ready to abuse them, up until angels step in and blind the men. Rabba Sara Hurwitz discusses the nature of this blindness, and speaks about stepping up to aid victims of abuse.

The story of the destruction of Sedom and Amora, Sodom and Gomorrah, is deeply upsetting on many levels. Often overlooked, though, is the willingness of Lot to hand over his daughters to men ready to abuse them, up until angels step in and blind the men. Rabba Sara Hurwitz discusses the nature of this blindness, and speaks about stepping up to aid victims of abuse.