The last seventeen years of the lifetime of our father Yaakov are, so to speak, the best years of his long and eventful life. When appearing before the Pharaoh of Egypt, Yaakov freely admits that the first one hundred thirty years of his life were sparse and difficult. He experienced a lifetime of troubles and travails from the moment he was born holding on to the heel of his brother Eisav. ... READ MORE →
As the Torah’s narrative of the story of Yosef and his brothers reaches its dramatic climax in this week’s parsha, one may feel justifiably surprised that the brothers were so shocked at Yosef’s revelation to them. After all, there was no shortage of revelatory hints strewn by Yosef throughout the unfolding story. But the brothers, convinced of the rectitude of their actions and... READ MORE →
The astounding and amazing story of Yosef continues in this week's parsha. Through a series of inexplicable events, Yosef finds himself raised from being a kidnapped victim and slave who was thrust into prison and doomed to oblivion, to becoming the chief minister of the Pharaoh and the Egyptian Empire. Yosef takes all of this in stride and certainly sees it as being part of a series of events... READ MORE →
Yaakov and Yosef, the two main protagonists of the narrative in this final section of the book of Bereshith, are both blindsided by the events that befall them. After years of exile and turmoil, incessant danger and inherent loneliness, Yaakov attempts to settle down to an apparent tranquil retirement. He is not looking for new worlds to conquer, nor is he intending to be active or... READ MORE →
יעקב ויוסף, שני הגיבורים העיקריים של הסיפור בחלק האחרון של ספר בראשית, מופתעים מהאירועים שקורים להם בחייהם. אחרי שנים של גלות ותהפוכות, של סכנה בלתי פוסקת ובדידות, יעקב מנסה למצוא סוף סוף מנוחה ושלווה. הוא לא מנסה... READ MORE →
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 →
