We will sit down to the Seder this year while our people suffer. Israel faces simultaneous attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran. More than a hundred Jews are still in captivity. Antisemitism is rampant and acceptable again in coffee shops, public squares, public schools, and college campuses.
The saga …
Jacob and Laban
This week’s Parsha describes our Patriarch Jacob’s journey from parents’ home to the home of his uncle Laban. This was a journey from a place of sacred purity to a pit of immorality and deceit. Understandably, it was a difficult journey.
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The Commercial Enterprise
Our Patriarch Jacob grew wealthy through his cattle enterprises. He first raised a great flock of sheep. He sold the sheep and purchased oxen, sold the oxen and purchased camel, sold the camel, and purchased donkey, sold the donkey and purchased valuables.
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How Do We Survive?
Our sages tell us that our forefather Jacob’s journey from B’er Sheva to Charan is symbolic of the daily journey made by the soul. For a Jew, every morning begins with prayer and Torah study. Pretty soon however, this period of the day comes to a close …
The Thrill of Discovery
Did you know that our patriarchs were devoted well diggers? Imagine digging for hours or even days on end, with no visible success. You dig thirty meters and find only soil and rock. You wonder about your prospects. You wonder if your efforts are in vain. (1)
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Jacob and Esau – Twin Brothers
We are told that Esau, the older brother, physically mature at birth. The Hebrew name Esav means ‘finished’, or complete, indicating that he completed his growth process. Jacob, the second son, emerged in hot pursuit with his tiny hand tightly clasping his brother’s heel. The …
The Warring Nations
“There two nations are in your womb and two regimes from your innards will separate”. The ethos of these words, told to our Matriarch Rivkah with regards to the twins she was carrying in her womb, echo across generations with the clarity of prophetic vision. Every Jew struggles …
The Magic Potion
“Rabbi, what can I do to silence my inner voice,” asked the man. When the rabbi replied that this voice might never be silenced, the man exclaimed, “But it’s driving me crazy. Is there any advice that can help me overcome it?”
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