A Labor of Love
In this week's reading, Yaakov parcels out blessings to his sons, based upon his prophetic understanding of their futures. He describes Yissachar as a strong-boned donkey, who saw that "rest" was good, yet "bent his shoulder to bear, and became a servant to tasks"...
Leaving Our Land
Even as belief in the G-d of the Jews has spread around the world, other nations still regard the Jews as a different people. Whether given welcome or oppressed, we are different. And to that extent, we are not truly home in any other land. The brothers tell us: we must always look forward to going home.
It Only Looks Like a Snake Pit
In this week's reading, the sons of Yaakov sell their brother Yosef into slavery. First, they take him and throw him into a pit, intending to kill him. But seeing a caravan approaching, Yehudah suggests that they sell him instead, keeping the money while sending him...
You Can Save a Life
What if I told you there was something you could do, right now, that could save a life in Israel? Would you do it? In this week's reading, Yaakov returns to the Land of Israel, only to meet his brother Esav -- who years earlier tried to kill him. Yaakov prepared for...
The Appropriate Blessing
This week we read that Yitzchak (Isaac) wanted to bless his older son Esav, but Yaakov came instead, as advised by his mother Rivka. As a result, both sons were blessed -- and though Yitzchak was deceived, he was Divinely Inspired to give each child the right...
Big Talkers and Big Doers
At the beginning of this week's reading, Sarah passes away and Avraham goes to find a burial place for her. He would like to bury her in the burial place of Adam and Chava (Eve), which is the Cave of Machpela near Hebron. So he goes to the Hittites to ask for that...
