One of the basic questions raised by the commentators to the Torah as well as by all of Jewish history is determining the true relationship of Jacob and Esau. Is Esau the implacable enemy of Jacob and so has he remained throughout human history? Or, is he only the wayward brother of Jacob who is capable of reconciliation and cooperation in building a better and more just society? This... READ MORE →
אחת משאלות היסוד שמעלים מפרשי התורה ועולה שוב ושוב לכל אורך ההיסטוריה היהודית היא שאלת היחסים האמיתיים ששוררים בין יעקב ועשיו: האם עשיו הוא אויבו בנפש של יעקב ולכן הוא בוודאי יישאר כזה לכל אורך ההיסטוריה? ושמא הוא רק... READ MORE →
Our father Yaakov faced many difficult challenges in his long and tumultuous life. This week’s parsha highlights one of the major challenges that any individual can face – the physical and emotional disconnect from one’s family and familiar surroundings. To add to this challenge’s complexity, there is the fact that he is forced to live in a very hostile environment. His work is... READ MORE →
יעקב אבינו התמודד עם הרבה אתגרים קשים בחייו הארוכים ורבי התהפוכות. פרשת השבוע עוסקת באחד מהאתגרים הקשים שיכולים לעמוד בפנים כל אדם – הניתוק הגופני והרגשי ממשפחתו ומסביבתו המוכרת. וכמו כדי להוסיף למורכבות של האתגר... READ MORE →
Perfect parents do not always produce perfect children. This week’s parsha is a perfect illustration of this truism of life and family. There apparently was very little that Yitzchak and Rivka could do to reclaim Eisav to their way of life and level of morality. He was, perhaps, incapable of moral improvement the moment he was born. There existed, and perhaps still exists, a great debate... READ MORE →
הורים מושלמים לא תמיד מצליחים לגדל ילדים מושלמים. פרשת השבוע היא דוגמה מצוינת לאמת הזאת שאנחנו רואים בחיי משפחות. נראה שיצחק ורבקה יכולים היו לעשות אך מעט כדי להחזיר את עשיו לאורח החיים שלהם ולרמה נאותה של מוסרית. אולי... READ MORE →
The loss of one’s beloved spouse, especially after many years and decades of marriage and shared life, is always a traumatic and shattering blow. Those of us, who unfortunately have also experienced this in our own lives, can testify as to the emotional damage and even physical harm that this sad experience can occasion. We see from the life of our father Jacob that even decades later he... READ MORE →
For the Jewish people, one of the hallmarks of our great founding parents was their ability to maintain communication with their Creator. God, so to speak, was a constant living presence in their lives, thoughts and actions. And they were able to hear God’s voice, though God has no voice, and to visualize God even though God has no physical appearance. God spoke to them through the inner voice... READ MORE →
Relocating one's self is a challenging task at any age. Doing so in the later stages of life is doubly challenging. It is no wonder that the rabbis of the Mishnah characterized our father Avraham’s move from Mesopotamia to the Land of Israel as being one of the ten major tests of his turbulent life. Leaving all that is familiar and attempting to integrate one's self in a new and strange... READ MORE →
The main character described in this week's Torah reading is naturally Noach himself. I think that the Torah wishes to illustrate, through Noach’s personality and his reactions to the impending disaster and to the world afterwards - the challenges of being a survivor. Everyone who has ever survived a serious challenge or tragedy replays in one's mind what might have been done differently,... READ MORE →
