“And Yitzchak was forty years old when he took Rivka, the daughter of Betuel the Aramean of Paddan-Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean” (Breisheet…
Toldot: Out in the Field
Our Sages were no respecters of persons. When they felt a wrong was committed, they called it out – be that person Noach, Avraham, Moshe or anyone…
Toldot: Truth or Consequences
Our Torah is a Torah of truth. As a description of G-d, with each mitzvah representing a different aspect of the Divine, it can be no other way.…
Toldot: Great Food
When discussing the themes of Sefer Beresheit one would not necessarily place food high on the list. Yet it could be argued that many of…
Toldot: A Wonderful Sin!
"When Eisav heard his father’s words he let out a most loud and bitter scream" (27:34). Our Sages sensitive to even minor failings of…
Toldot: The Strength of Yitzchak
Our Sages identified each of our patriarchs and matriarchs with the character traits that they best exemplified. Avraham, the master of hospitality…
Toldot: A Second Famine
“And there was a famine in the land, aside from the first famine that was in the days of Avraham...And G-d appeared to him [Yitzchak] and said…
Toldot: All My Children
It is hard to imagine a more disparate couple than Yitzchak and Rivka, the quiet contemplative husband who would "meditate in the fields" (…
Toldot: Pray for Others
“Rabbi Yitzchak said: ‘Yitzchak our forefather was barren, as it is written ‘and Isaac entreated the Lord lenochach, alongside,…
Toldot: And He Grew Up
"Vayigdal Haish, and the man grew up and grew more and more, until he became very big" (Breisheet 26:13). At first glance, this is…
Toldot: Blind Love
How sad when parents do not understand their children, and are unaware of what they’re up to. Either through purposeful ignorance or just plain being…
Toldot: Raising Children
There is no greater challenge than that of raising refined children. It is a task with so many variables and fraught with such difficulty that many a…