Seven Minute Torah

The opening of the book is Exodus is the origin story of Moses...but it's also the story of the women in his life. In this episode I am joined by Rabbi Sally Priesand, North America's first woman rabbi, to discuss the women who make Moses's story possible - and to celebrate 50 years of women's rabbinical ordination.

The final parashah of Genesis is about death, life, and legacy. Ephraim and Menashe receive a blessing from their grandfather Jacob. In a sense, we get to be living expressions of the values of those who came before us.

The Joseph story is ultimately a story about forgiveness and about relationships.

Among other things, Joseph is the first "Diaspora Jew." How does his story in this week's parashah mirror and inspire Jewish life today?

This week's parashah tells the story of Joseph and the "coat of many colours." What is the secret of Joseph's incredible resilience?  Listen in for Rabbi Streiffer's take.

Why is Jacob's name change such a pivotal moment in the Jewish story? And what does it have to teach us about our own lives?

This week's parashah tells the story of the 12 sons of Jacob, who become the 12 tribes of Israel. The symbolism of family has something to teach about the realities of peoplehood and responsibility.

This week's Torah portion teaches about how to disagree respectfully. We could learn a thing or two for our own lives and our political system.

Chayei Sarah is a portion about death that is really about life. The death of Sarah and of Abraham teach us an important lesson about relationships and about living our best life.

Per the episode, my short story "A Wind From the South," which is about Isaac and Ishmael burying their father together, can be found here: https://jewishliteraryjournal.com/fiction/a-wind-from-the-south/.

Vayera is the story of Abraham and Sarah. It teaches us that we can transform the world from mundane to sacred through mitzvot - acts of holy obligation.