Shabbat Parashas Vayeishev - 5786
Shabbat Parashas Vayeishev - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller  Then Yehudah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's  house until my son Shelah grows up" for he said "Lest he also die like his brothers."  So Tamar went and lived in her father's house. [Bereishit 38:11] Why did Yehudah push Tamar aside? Our verse gives a reason, "Lest he also die like his brothers", but is that his only thinking? Rashi writes, "he would push her away with a straw for he did
Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach - 5786
Shabbat Parashat Vayishlach - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller  Then God said to him, Your name is Yaakov. Your name shall no longer be  called Yaakov rather Yisrael shall be your name. And He called his name  Yisrael. [Bereishit 35:10] A few weeks ago we read [17:5] "your name shall no longer be called Avram but your name shall be Avraham". The wording in Hebrew is virtually identical with our verse. Or HaChayim notes that the Gemara "Berachot 13 states that anyone who calls Avraham