The seventh Torah portion of the Book of Genesis begins with the third patriarch, Jacob. He leaves Canaan to find a wife in Aram. He marries there and fathers a large family. After 20 years, he secretly flees Aram, aiming for the land of Israel, fearful that his father-in-law, Laban, will try to prevent him from leaving. But after Laban tries many tricks to fight him, they make peace, and Jacob, full of gratitude, arrives in the Holy Land. G‑d…
Was Jacob right to take Esau’s blessing in disguise? Was he right to deceive his father and to take from his brother the blessing Isaac sought to give him? Was Rebecca right in encouraging Jacob to carry it out? Rebecca was righteous and knew that it would be Jacob, not Esau, who would continue the covenant and carry the mission of Abraham into the future. She knew this on two separate grounds. First, she had heard it from G‑d himself…
Throughout history, humans have sought joy. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve lived in peace and spiritual enlightenment, free from worry and hardship. Yet they were not content, leading them to succumb to the temptation of the forbidden fruit. Eve’s desire was not for the fruit itself but for a sense of individuality. This pursuit of ego led to disastrous consequences, with humanity deteriorating rapidly, moral corruption spreading, and the Flood coming upon the earth. Upon leaving the…
This Torah portion tells us how Abraham came to cry for Sarah and to mourn her. (Genesis 23:2) According to the Zohar, Sarah represents the body, and Abraham represents the soul. Abraham mourns for Sarah’s death. The soul also feels sorrow over the body’s death. The soul has attained freedom. It has escaped from the physical limitations of a human vessel. But now it cannot be genuinely close to the Divine presence. Only with a body can a soul create…
Why do we give Abraham the credit for passing the test of the binding of Isaac? Isaac was the one who was ready to give his life for the will of G-d. For lofty souls such as Abraham and Isaac, giving their lives to fulfill G‑d’s command was no great test. The great test was for Abraham to refrain from weighing the ways of G‑d. Abraham, for many years of his life, built a ladder of reason. He was a…