בפרשת השבוע מתרחש רגע של מעבר חשוב בסיפור בנייתו של העם היהודי כישות לאומית בחייו של יעקב אבינו. עד שמשפחתו של יעקב נכנסה לתמונה, סיפורה של היהדות וסיפורו של העם היהודי היה סיפורם של יחידים בודדים. אברהם נאלץ להתרחק... READ MORE →
In this week’s parsha, our father Yaakov marks a moment of great transition in the story of the establishment of the Jewish people as a national entity. Until Yaakov’s family appears on the scene, the story of Judaism and Jews is one of lonely and singular individuals. Avraham has to break away from the idolatrous home of Terach and wander to fulfill his dream of monotheism and morality.... READ MORE →
The Midrash teaches us that when our father Yaakov was aware of the impending confrontation with his erstwhile brother, Eisav, he prepared a number of options for himself as to how the scenario would play itself out. He was prepared to pay Eisav a large amount of wealth to leave him in peace. He prayed to the Lord for Divine intervention on his behalf. And he also mobilized his family... READ MORE →
Our father Yaakov sends emissaries to meet his brother Eisav and attempst to mollify him and to head off a possibly violent and even fatal confrontation. There are differing opinions in Midrash and the commentaries whether these emissaries were angels or humans. In any event it appears from the parsha that they were unsuccessful in their mission and were unable to deflect Eisav and his four... READ MORE →
הצלחת יעקב אין ספק שהסיפור של יעקב אבינו, כפי שהוא מתואר בפרשת השבוע, הוא הסנונית הראשונה בסיפורי ההיסטוריה היהודית שנפרשת על פני מאות שנים של גולה ותפוצה. יעקב מגיע נרדף וחסר כול - נמלט משנאתו של עשיו ומזעם חרבו.... READ MORE →
The story of our father Yaakov, as portrayed in this week's parsha, is certainly the harbinger of all of the Jewish story in the long centuries of our exile and dispersion. Yaakov arrives penniless and persecuted - a survivor from the ravages of the enmity and sword of Eisav. He is subjected to further humiliation and discrimination in the house of his erstwhile father-in-law and employer... READ MORE →
The Torah reading tells us of the birth of twin sons to Yitzchak and Rivka. The elder son, Eisav, comes forth fully formed, ruddy and strong. The younger twin is named Yaakov. The Torah tells us that he is holding on to Eisav’s heel. In effect he is holding Eisav back from accomplishing his desires. The Hebrew word for heel – aikev – is embedded into the name of Yaakov. It is as... READ MORE →
The Torah emphasizes to us the importance of the continuity of generations in this week’s parsha. The name alone by which the parsha is called – “toldot” – generations, testifies to the stress that the Torah places on this vision in Jewish life. My wise old Talmud teacher said to his class: “Boys, if your grandparents and your grandchildren are both proud of you and your... READ MORE →
אחת התחזיות המדהימות שמופיעות בתורה בעניין העם היהודי היא זו שאומרת שמבחינה מספרית נהיה תמיד עם קטן. אין ספק שזה היה נכון בהיסטוריה הארוכה שלנו עד כה. בימי חורבן בית המקדש השני, מספר הסינים היה פי שניים ממספרנו. כמעט... READ MORE →
One of the more amazing predictions regarding the Jewish people that appears in the Torah is that numerically speaking we will always be a small nation. That certainly has been the case over our long history. At the time of the destruction of the Second Temple the Chinese were twice our numbers. Almost two millennia later the Chinese are approximately one hundred times our numbers. In... READ MORE →
