This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, shifts the narrative of the Book of Genesis by portraying the dreadful consequences of deceit. The Book of Genesis routinely uses treachery to depict wit and sophistication. Abraham deceives the Pharaoh to survive and enrich his household. Isaac does the same when he resides with Abimelech. Jacob wrests both blessing and birthright from his more powerful brother, Esau, through trickery and deception. In each instance, dishonesty yields rewards from a more powerful foe without consequence. However, in Parashat Vayeitzei, Jacob and his family discover the dreadful costs of living lives filled with deceit and treachery. Jacob, who must flee to Haran due to his treachery, is quickly betrayed by his kinsman Laban. After promising his daughter, Rachel, to Jacob in exchange for seven years of labor, Laban swaps Rachel with Leah at the altar, and Jacob must work an additional seven years for Rachel. Then, after agreeing to [...]

This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, begins with Jacob fleeing the wrath of his brother, Esau. Along his way, he stops for the night and dreams of a ladder reaching the heavens, with Divine messengers ascending and descending the ladder. According to the sages, these messengers are angels. Some accompany Jacob throughout the land of Canaan, but, as he prepares to depart, they exchange places with a new set of angels who will accompany him throughout his sojourn in Haran. God then informs Jacob, “I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and will return you to this land.” When Jacob returns to Canaan at the end of the parashah, he again encounters Divine messengers, ostensibly exchanging roles once again. Like Ezekiel’s vision of God departing into exile with the Judeans on a Divine chariot following the destruction of the Holy Temple, Jacob’s encounters with Divine messengers illustrate that [...]

Today is the second day in the Hebrew month of Kislev, a month which is acknowledged by the rabbis as the second season for rain. During Sukkot, our daily prayers for dew are swapped with those for rain, as we pray  for the life-giving waters that will ensure a prosperous farming season. Though modern technology has enabled us to survive years of drought, we Angelinos know all too well the devastating effects of compounding drought. Praying for rain, however, is no simple matter in antiquity. The Talmud discourages Jews from practicing the ancient rite of fasting for rain until Rosh Chodesh Kislev. Only afterwards would the first rain of the season be considered late. In addition, the Talmud warns, we must count seven consecutive days of rain as two separate rainfalls for the purpose of our pleas, and we may only open the fields to gleaning by all once [...]

Today is Rosh Chodesh, the first day in the Hebrew month of Kislev. Though Hanukkah does not fall until the twenty-fifth day of the month, the brilliance of the coming festival looms over the preceding month, as we look forward to filling our darkened days with light and joy. But before we begin to decorate, cook, and celebrate in anticipation of the holiday, our people’s history implores us to consider the many blessings we enjoy as Jews prepare for the 2188th Hanukkah. According to the books of the Maccabees, on the first of Kislev in 164 BCE, our forebears remained in caves and outposts as they waged a guerilla insurrection against the Seleucid Greeks that would result in the recapture of Jerusalem and the rededication of the Temple, twenty-five days later. Their campaign did not secure the independence of Judea, which remained at war with the Seleucids until 142 BCE. [...]