Torah Thoughts - B'reishith/Genesis

Welcome to Jerusalem Lights' Blog

Here you'll find Torah thoughts on the weekly portions written by Rabbi Richman over the years, insights and teachings on the subject of the Holy Temple, archaeological research by archaeologist Hillel Richman, lessons focused on the festivals, special times and sacred seasons of the Hebrew calendar, and more...new articles are being uploaded as time allows so check back often.

Be sure to read Hillel's newest blog,

'The Tombs of the House of David, Part I - One of the Greatest Unsolved Archeological Mysteries of Jerusalem'

Rabbi Chaim Richman

4 min

The Tower of Babel: A Cautionary Tale for our Time

In the Torah portion of Noach, after the earth had healed from the flood, we encounter the saga of the Generation of the Dispersion, the...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

3 min

Parashat Toldot - Serving Others, or Serving Myself?

The main focus in the Torah portion of Toldot is on Yitzchak and Rivka’s twin sons, Yaakov and Esav. There were vast differences between...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

4 min

Va'yechi - Speak No Evil

In the Torah portion of parashat Vayechi, in chapter 48:1 we read “And it came to pass after these things that someone said to Joseph,...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

2 min

Va’yeshev - Who Was that Man?

The Torah portion of Vayeshev begins the story of Yosef and his brothers and the events which ultimately led to the descent of the nation...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

1 min

Va’yishlach - Angels at Our Command

In the Torah portion of Vayishlach, Yaakov sends ‘messengers’ on ahead to his brother Esav. The Hebrew word melachim means ‘angels,’ and...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

1 min

Va’yeitzei - Connecting Heaven and Earth

The Torah portion of parashat Vayeitze, “And he (Yaakov) went out,” begins in Gen. Ch.28:10. In the beginning of the portion, the...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

2 min

Chayei Sarah: A Celebration of Life

The name of this Torah portion, parashat Chayei Sarah, literally means ‘the life of Sarah,’ yet it is all about the death of Sarah, her...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

2 min

Lech Lecha: Going Against the Stream

In parashat Lech Lecha, we meet up with two figures: the patriarch Avraham, and also Jacob’s wife, our matriarch Rachel…and during many...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

1 min

B’reishith - Losing Control

We begin a new year of weekly Torah readings, with the parasha of B'reishith, the first portion of Genesis. We learn how Hashem created...

Rabbi Chaim Richman

5 min

Parashat Vayera: The Secret of Finding the Entrance to Paradise

“And Hashem appeared to him in the plains of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of the tent in the heat of the day.” As our...