This week’s Torah portion is called Mikeitz, which means “after”. In context, it’s two years after Joseph was sold into slavery. Since this parsha falls on the first night of Hanukkah I chose to sketchnote a dvar Torah by my friend Rabbi Rachel Barenblat. In her dvar Torah she connects this installment of the story […]
The Art of Sacred Lettering
Introduction to Hebrew Lettering I’ve been talking with Heather Martinez – the grandmistress of lettering (@CorpGraffitiArt) about drawing letters and the challenges I face drawing Hebrew letters. She’s going to look into learning to draw Hebrew so she can help me out (how cool is that!?!). Her awareness and humility at not wanting to accidentally […]
Vayeishev – Man Plans and G-d Laughs
The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Robert Burns writes eloquently in his poem “To a Mouse” that “The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew, and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy!” To an extent this poem is an analog to the Torah portion Vayeishev, which […]
Vayishlach – On Sweetness Created by Deborah
In an era where bad things seem to happen frequently sometimes it’s good to focus on the gems of peace and truth around us. I’m talking about this week’s Torah portion, Vayishlach. When I first read it I was taken aback by the brutality of the rape of Dina, daughter of Jacob, by Shechem, the […]
Vayeitzei – The Simple Art of Thanksgiving
This week’s Torah portion, Vayeitzei, contains the wonderful visuals of the story of Jacob’s ladder. Jacob dreams of angels going up and down a ladder. G-d blesses him. Jacob names the place “Beth El” (House of G-d). In his dvar Torah “The Simple Art of Thanksgiving” Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake of Westchester Reform Temple in […]