#Parasha: Weekly Insights from a Leading Israeli Journalist

by Sivan Rahav-Meir

For Sivan Rahav-Meir, the Torah is a fountain of wisdom for relationships, education, government, finances, self-growth, and beyond. A seasoned journalist in Israel, Rahav-Meir has interviewed heads of state and senior political officials, and has uncovered exclusive stories that have impacted the discourse in Israel. With a wealth of real-life experience, she applies her insights to the weekly Torah portion.
# Weekly Insights from a Leading Israeli Journalist is Rahav-Meir's debut book in English. Translated from her bestselling Hebrew parasha book, Rahav-Meir shares brief reflections on the Torah from sources past and present, infused with a thought-provoking message for the entire family. What began as short posts shared on social media has stimulated ongoing conversation amongst religious, traditional and progressive families. Now, she brings her inspiration to the English-speaking public.

350 pages, Hardcover

Published August 17, 2017

Reviews

[Israel Drazin · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many essays in many books offering interpretations and other ideas about the weekly readings of the Torah read every Monday, Thursday, Sabbaths and holidays. But this one is refreshingly different. It is not by a rabbi or a college professor, but by a woman who is respected by religious and secular Jews. She is a popular Israeli media personality, a prime time anchor on Israel's TV, and she has a well-read interesting column in Israel's largest newspaper reporting on politics, the courts, the religious sector, and the government. She knows life, and addresses it in this easy to read fascinating book.
Her essays, she writes, are designed to bring the Torah into our daily conversation, and to add new voices to the ones we usually hear. She has several very brief essays on each of the 54 weekly portions. There are usually four in five pages devoted to each parasha.
Her essays are not midrashic. They are rational and practical. She quotes on occasions from good sources. In the portion of Hayei Sara, for example, she quotes Nehama Leibowitz and Akavia ben Mehalalel. Examining the behavior of the young Rebecca who watered the camels of Abraham’s servant, she writes, “The quick-witted and practical people of today are likely to call the young girl who spent hours helping strangers a misguided lass who is too innocent for her own good and mistaken in her behavior – in short, a sucker.” And she tells us why these two scholars disagree, and ends by saying, “It is these ‘fools’ who keep the world going, then and to this day.”

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts felt insightful and refreshing, others felt forced and shallow.