Parasha of the Week

After decades of estrangement Jacob is about to meet his twin.  Will Esau accept his brother?  The last time he saw Jacob, Esau swore to destroy him.     What happens when your distant relative, whom you have not seen in may years (and have no wish to ever see again) shows up at the event you planned on attending?  Will it keep you up at night worrying about what embarrassing thing they will do this time? Should you just pretend that you do not see them?   This was Jacob’s prayer the night before his meeting: “G-d of my father Abraham, G-d of my father Isaac, G-d protects the pious and the unworthy. I do not merit mercy and to be truthful you have given me more than I deserve."    “Lord of the world, I have suffered in my life but I am here and I have come through stronger because your faith in me.  With whatever merit for past deeds I have done and whatever I deserve because of my ancestors, bless me wit...

Its is written, “ And Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “I know, the presence of G-d is in this place.”   To sustain ourselves in life we need to eat, sleep and work.  It is easy to get subsumed and even overwhelmed with what is our next meal, will we get the next raise whether, are we are exercising enough, organizing your clothes closet, getting the latest smart phone….  As soon as we wake in the morning we were assaulted by things too numerous to count that need to get done during the course of a single day…. and we forget why we are alive.   Rabbi Meir of Premishlan made the observation that the spiritual person thinks of G-d the very moment that he opens his eyes. The spiritual person is aware that sleep has restored his energy and gives him power to pursue his spiritual growth. Such energy makes food more palatable, makes love more meaningful and makes the day – each passing moment -much richer.   I can wake from sleep and then tur...

The tale of Sodom and Gemorrah is woven into this narrative. The tale of the decadent cities is compelling, appalling…and revealing.   Evil is a recurrent theme in the history of humanity. But the Torah has a higher concern. Its main thrust concerns how we respond to it. Even if we cannot stop evil we are called to move against and not remain silent. Here the Torah lifts up the uttered concerns of Father Abraham as he attempts to find redemption in a place where there is none. It is a futile exercise for Abraham. Yet at the same time the fact that Abraham tries to rescue the damned is what Torah wants us, his children, to aspire toward. Rabbi Hirsch of Rimanov one tragedy after another. Many children died in their youth. There was only one surviving child, a daughter, died in childbirth. Her husband turned to the rabbi and said, “You offer prayers that others will be blessed with a long life and the Lord hears you. Why do you not pray for yourself?”  The Rabbi replied,...

The Sidra depicts the death and burial of Mother Sarah. She lived until an old age, but not until G-d fulfilled His promise to bless her with a child. She waited until her ninetieth year to have Isaac delivered to her and Abraham.  The impending birth was predicted by a visiting Angel who told Sarah, “I will return in the next season and you shall have a son.”  Angels are messengers of G-d. They speak truths at the behest of their Master. Yet, the Angel did not reappear to Sarah when it was time to give birth. Did her lie? Is this possible that the Angel deceived Sarah? The Medzibozer Rebbe explains: “The Angel promised to return to Sarah. He did not deceive her. Instead, when the Angel returned he came in the form of the baby Sarah delivered.” There are many old legends which tell of the Holy one blessed be He dispatching sacred souls from the Next Universe and giving them to parents. Children are born with much knowledge of the Other Side but swiftly forget. Every ...

You know how many  mitzvot  world there are.  Lots. 613, at last count. Do you know what is the very first mitzvah in the Torah? See below to find if you are correct. This mitzvah is a very important one. It means the continuation of humanity. Each child is born in compliance with God’s will. But there is another element to be considered as well. You are also the dream of your grandparents. The fact that you were born is the fulfillment of their hopes and aspirations part of them and your other ancestors, resides within you. Shoot the next link in the chain of tradition that began at Sinai and breasts in your hands today. To have a child then is both acting in accordance with gods wishes as well as the realization of the dreams of all of the blood relatives who are your forbearance. So much is invested in children. Having children, or not having them, is the theme of this week’s Torah reading, Toldot. Rebecca has no children. She yearns to give birth. For 20 long ...