weekly insights

At time of writing, the Bibas children, Ariel and Kfir, and their mother, Shiri, have been laid to rest in Israel. I want to speak about...

After the revelation at Sinai, the Book of Exodus turns its attention to the spiritual welfare of the Israelites during their desert trek...

“The Old Testament and the Jewish tradition must not be set against the New Testament in such a way that the former seems to constitute a...

This week we explore afresh a passage which is lodged in many minds as the ‘Ten Commandments’ (Exodus 20:1-17). Actually, the Hebrew word...

How well do you know the bible story of the ten plagues in the Book of Exodus? If you were asked, “Who is the main protagonist in the...

"Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh…" (Exodus 5:1). As we commence the Book of Exodus, our verse for close attention...

As our Torah portion opens, Jacob has been 17 years in Egypt. His longing for his homeland is unmistakable. His longings reflect not only...

'I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold to Egypt' (Genesis 45:4). With these words, Joseph reveals his true identity to his estranged...

"Let Pharaoh now select a man who is discerning and wise and set him over the land of Egypt…" (Genesis 41:33). The sages detect a curious...

In December both Christians and Jews hold candle-lighting rituals.  Christian families light the Advent wreath candles on the Sundays...

“Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with beings divine and human, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:29)....

On this day, 6 December 2024, the anniversary of William Cooper's courageous protest in the wake of Kristallnacht in 1938, and as a...

Our Torah reflection this week, from Chapter 28 of Genesis, opens with Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, fleeing to Haran having just...

"She went to inquire of the L ORD , and the L ORD answered her…" (Gen 25:22-23, JPS). Pregnant with two sons who are already warring...

If you are in reach of Melbourne this February 2025, I encourage you to register now for a three-day Gathering of people from Australia...

" Now Isaac was coming from the approach to Be’er-lachai-ro’i" (Genesis 24:62). In Torah studies we are taught to be alert to deeper...

“The Lord appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot” (Genesis...

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make...

With an eye to the Jewish cycle of readings, this week we open the Book of Genesis and ponder the story of the Tower of Babel (11:1-9)....

A new idea has extraordinary power. It can be embraced, rejected, or ignored, but what one cannot do is ‘unthink’ it. So says creative...