Jack Kustanowitz
Parshat Shemot: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Shmot
PARSHAT SHEMOT And these are the names (“shemot”) of the children of Israel who coming to Egypt with Jacob (each of these came with his family): Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naftali, Gad, and Asher For a total of 70 people (Joseph was in Egypt). Joseph,...
Parshat Vayechi: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayechi
So Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years, having lived a total of 147 years. In his dying days, he called his son Joseph, to ask him one favor: “Do not bury me in Egypt. When I pass on, I’d like to be buried with my forefathers.” Joseph agreed, and promised to do so. Shortly thereafter, Joseph is...
Parshat Vayigash: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayigash
[A Parsha Walkthrough is a colloquial translation of the original, telling the story in modern English as closely as possible to the way it is told in the original Hebrew.] [The brothers are desperate as Joseph has threatened to keep Benjamin as a slave and send the rest of them home.] Judah...
Parshat Miketz: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Miketz
And so here we are, two years later, and now Pharaoh is also having dreams. He’s standing on the banks of the Nile, and seven healthy cows come up out of the water. They are followed by seven sick-looking cows, who join them on the banks of the Nile. Then the sick cows consume the healthy cows,...
Parshat Vayeshev: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayeshev
[We left off last week with a fast-forward of Esav’s family in Edom, outside Canaan.] Jacob, however, settled down IN his father’s land, Canaan. [Following the same formula we’ve seen before with Noach, Abraham, and Isaac]: Here is the story of Jacob: Joseph was 17 years old, and he would hang...
Parshat Vayishlach: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayishlach
[We pick up the story with Jacob on his way home after 20 years abroad.] Jacob sends messengers to his brother Esav, with the following message: “This is Jacob speaking. I’ve been living with Lavan and haven’t had a chance to get back until just now. It’s been a profitable time, and I...
Parshat Vayetze: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayetze
[ Walkthrough Rules - A reader of a Walkthrough should have the same rich, immersive experience that someone who is deeply familiar with Biblical idiom and references would have reading the original. - Cultural translation: Phrases that sound idiomatic to a speaker of Biblical Hebrew get...
Parshat Toldot: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Toldot
We start this week’s parsha with the same formula we started Parshat Noach: “Here’s the story of Isaac (Avraham’s son).” Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rivkah (his cousin). He prayed to God alongside his wife, who was barren (family theme, more to come), God answered, and Rivka became...
Parshat Chayei Sarah: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Chayei Sarah
As we lay the groundwork for Isaac’s future wife at the end of last week’s parsha, we being this week with the death of his mother, Sarah, at 127 years old. She died in Hebron, and we are told that Avraham “arrived” to mourn her (making us wonder where he had been, and what might have transpired...
Parshat Vayera: Walkthrough
Posted by Jack Kustanowitz | Tags: Vayera
(Recall, at the end of last week’s Parsha, 99-year-old Avraham has circumcised himself, Ishmael, and every other man in sight.) So God appears to Avraham as he was at the front door of his tent in the middle of the day: Avraham looks up and what do you know – there are 3 men standing there. He...
