by Janet Buckstein This week’s Torah portion is Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23. Personally, this parashah has always been one of my favorites. Just think about what is happening:

• First, Moses’ father- in-law Jethro (Yitro) advises Moses to delegate. Who among us, as sisterhood leaders, has not seen the advantages to delegation as a way to reduce the burden of decision-making and fostering buy-in to our programs?  And Moses heeds this advice appointing Judges to help him lead the people.
• Then God speaks directly to all of the people and they accept his covenant. God speaks to all and the Israelites act as one. They are a community.
• Finally, God directly gives all the people the Ten Commandments. Essential to our faith, these are the laws that tie us together as a people —not only to God, but to each other.

by Rabbi Avi Schulman The Torah depicts the extreme peril our ancestors faced when they left Egypt. Gathered at the shores of the Sea of Reeds with Pharaoh’s army bearing down on them, God performed a miracle by splitting the sea in two. The Israelites crossed over on dry land and then saw their foes drown as the waters crashed over Pharaoh’s warriors.

by Jane Oppenheim

Signs from God are featured in Parashat Bo – Plagues, marvels, wonders to know – With themes of God’s omnipotence, And of God’s remembrance. The locusts, the darkness, of Biblical days Are manifestly contemporary – in so many ways.

by Ellen Petracco The second reading from the book of Exodus and fourteenth reading from the Torah is named Va’eira, which means “And I appeared.” The title comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which says, “And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty (Exodus 6:3).” The portion begins with four expressions of redemption whereby God promises to bring Israel out of the Egyptian bondage. The narrative progresses to tell the story of the first seven of the 10 plagues that God unleashed on Egypt.

by Adrian Modansky Good wishes for a healthy and happy 2013! Aren’t we fortunate to be able to celebrate two new years? We have the opportunity to make two new beginnings!

by Connie Kreshtool This week’s Torah portion Va-y’chi (“and he lived”) concludes the Book of Genesis and relates the final years and death of Jacob, the last of the patriarchs.  After living in Egypt for 17 years, Jacob realizes that he will soon die and tells Joseph that he wishes to be buried with his ancestors in the Cave of Machpelah. He also tells Joseph that he will consider Jacob’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to be like his own first-born, Reuben and Simeon. Jacob proceeds to bless Ephraim and Manasseh by placing his right hand upon the younger Ephraim and his left hand upon Manasseh, which repeats the biblical theme of the younger son taking precedence over the older son.

by Rabbi Stanley M. Davids It will happen precisely at 6:12 a.m. today: The Winter Solstice. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, this will be the earliest start of the winter season since 1896! The sun’s path is at its southernmost point, and things are going to get a lot colder before the spring warm-up begins.

Today is a very busy and light-filled day in the Hebrew calendar. How fortunate and blessed we are to have so much light adorn our homes, first with the lighting of the sixth candle of Hanukkah and then with the welcoming of Shabbat by lighting her candles, especially since it now gets dark in the late afternoon.

by Dara Amram This week’s torah portion, Vayeishev, describes six prophetic dreams. Here we see that Joseph has a gift for reading dreams, but it's a talent that is primarily a passive one, where dream intuitions are given to him and he doesn’t need to think about anything.