Tomorrow is the tenth day of the month of Tevet, which includes a minor fast observed to commemorate the siege of Jerusalem in 588 BCE, the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah. Traditionally, Jews fast from sunrise to sunset on this day. According to the second book of Kings, on the tenth day of the tenth month (though Tevet is now considered the fourth month in the Hebrew calendar, the Biblical New Year began on the first of Nisan), Nebuchadnezzar II, the second Neo-Babylonian emperor, began the siege of Jerusalem. Eighteen months later, on the 17th of Tammuz, at the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign (586 BCE), Babylonian forces broke through the city walls. More than six hundred years later, the Romans would similarly break through the walls of Jerusalem on the 17th of Tammuz (another fast day). Then, three weeks later, on the 9th of [...]

This week, Jews around the world read from parashat vayechi, the final Torah portion in the Book of Genesis, which contains a poem of blessings offered by Jacob, on his deathbed, to his twelve sons. After reserving curses and criticisms for his first three sons, Jacob finally delivers a blessing worthy of the name when he arrives at his fourth son, Judah. After praising Judah’s military and royal prowess, Jacob continues by claiming, “He will tether his donkey to a vine, his foal to a choice vine. He will wash his garment in wine, his robe in the blood of grapes. His eyes will be darker than wine, his teeth, whiter than milk.” (Genesis 49:10-11) This final element of Jacob’s blessing promises prosperity, as well as the health and repose that comes with affluence. Through the cultivation and sale of abundant grapes, Judah will achieve luxury, i.e. the free time to drink [...]

This week, Jews around the world read from parashat vayechi, the final Torah portion in the Book of Genesis, which contains a poem of blessings offered by Jacob, on his deathbed, to his twelve children. Unfortunately, Jacob doesn’t have twelve children. He has thirteen. Missing from Jacob’s blessings is his daughter, Dinah, whose final appearance in the Torah takes place way back in Chapter 34 when Shechem “takes her, lies with her, and afflicts her." (Genesis 34:2) Shechem then asks for her hand in marriage. Afterwards, Dinah’s brothers, Simeon and Levi, murder Shechem and his entire village before taking Dinah back home with them. From then on, Dinah’s name never reappears in the Torah. In this week’s parashah, Jacob, from his deathbed, condemns Simeon and Levi for murdering Shechem, but he offers no blessing for Dinah. He leaves her out, because acknowledging his daughter, by necessity, would also acknowledge his complicity in the [...]

This week, Jews around the world read from parashat vayechi, the final Torah portion in the Book of Genesis, which contains a poem of blessings offered by Jacob, on his deathbed, to his twelve sons. However, not all blessings are created equal. Jacob begins by reprimanding his eldest son, Reuben. Jacob vows that Reuben, foremost in position and in strength, forfeited any claim to leadership when he slept with his father’s concubine and Rachel’s maidservant, Bilhah. No further mention is made of Reuben’s transgression, first recorded in Genesis 35:22 —even before Joseph begins his epic journey—until now. Jacob carries the knowledge of his son’s wrongdoing in secret until the time arrives for him to receive his inheritance. Possibly, Reuben even believes that up until this point, he is meant to inherit the double portion given to Joseph’s children. Though Jacob may draw satisfaction from revealing his knowledge of Reuben’s crimes at the [...]