by Rabbi Ari Goldwag How the High Holiday season actually culminates with Chanukah. When we think of the month of Kislev, we naturally think of the holiday of Chanukah that begins on the 25th day of the month. Looking on a deeper level, we can discern a thread that ties together the three-month period that … Read more
Hineni/ Here I am is not a simple response in the Tanach, nor in our lives. After the seventeen year old Joseph describes his dreams to his family that seem to predict his future rulership over them, he creates a deepening rift of hatred and envy in the family. We read the following ”So his … Read more
by Rabbi Chanan Morrison ( based on the writings of Rabbi Kook zt”l) After 20 years of hard labor under his treacherous uncle Laban, Jacob returned safely to the Land of Israel. Jacob succeeded in appeasing his brother Esau, and finally made it back to Bethel. Bethel was the place where, as Jacob set out … Read more
We read in the parsha “And he said to him, what is your name? And he said, Yaakov. And he said, No longer will you be called Yaacov ( Yaacov) , but rather Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed. (Genesis 32:28-29). As we are to discover this naming … Read more
Yaacov (Jacob,) our forefather, was the prototype for our people’s voyage. He too had great moments and yet was beset with equally difficult moments in his personal walk into destiny. Yaacov was fleeing from his home. He was escaping from a brother who was set to kill him. He was running from a father who … Read more
The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. Parshat Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10–32:3) — Jacob escapes from his home knowing that Esav wants to kill him and not knowing where his future lies. In the midst of this place of uncertainty he arrives at a ” place.” The word place in Hebrew means Makom which is also … Read more
After twenty years of childlessness, Rivka ( Rebecca)and Yitzchak ( Isaac)are blessed with twin boys. Yet even this much awaited pregnancy is difficult:“ And the children struggled within her, and she said, “If [it be] so, why am I [like] this?” And she went to inquire of HaShem.”( Genesis 25:22) The Yalkut Shimoni explains that … Read more
The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. Parshat Toldot (Genesis 25:19–28:9) — After the meeting and marriage we read of twenty painful and hurting years wherein Isaac and Rebbecca wait for a child., And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebbecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan Aram, the sister of … Read more
