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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 has enabled the Jewish people to live as sovereigns in the Holy Land, the place of our forefathers—the land promised to the Jews by G‑d. Jewish law sets forth the criteria necessary for Israel’s peace and safety; these can only be achieved from a position of military strength and secure borders. Any sign of willingness to even speak about relinquishing land to the enemy is sure to encourage terrorism in Israel and abroad.

This is true for Gentiles as well; any willingness to speak and demand giving up territories in the land of Israel to terrorists encourages terrorism in their local countries. This is in addition to the Noahide prohibition of theft involved in such an act. The rise in anti-Semitism is an expression of ripping up all the masks. The divine truth of the Messianic era is about to be revealed; therefore, the dark forces represented by terrorism, anti-Semitism, and violence around the globe are trying to oppose this process.

Darkness is not a thing or force; it is merely the absence of light. So small light will therefore banish a roomful of darkness. The same is true of good and evil: evil is not a thing or force, but merely the absence or concealment of good. Adding light by observing the 7 Noahide commandments, which negate murder, kidnapping, and stealing of human beings, could eliminate the dark forces that glorify murder and kidnapping.

G-d is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and therefore it is appropriate to express gratitude for the blessings and gifts one receives in life. Furthermore, it is a logical obligation of any Noahide to develop an attitude of gratitude in his daily life. Gratitude can also help reduce stress and anxiety. We know that everything is under the supervision of God and that He is the source of the highest good. Those who observe the 7 Noahide laws will be part of a much better world soon.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

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 in the oracle she received before the twins were born:

‘Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated.
one person will be stronger than the other.
and the elder will serve the younger.’

Esau was the elder, Jacob the younger. Therefore, it was Jacob who would emerge with greater strength, Jacob who was chosen by G‑d.

Rebbeca knew that Esau was a hunter, a man of violence and threat. She had seen that he was a man of impulse. Esau cannot be a guardian of a covenant intended for eternity. The blessing had to go to Jacob. And if she had no other way of ensuring that the blessing went to one who would cherish it and live it, then in this case the end justifies the means. Rebbeca knew exactly where the truth stood.

The blessings Isaac bestowed upon Jacob were for material prosperity and a promise that he would be able to overcome the evil of Esau. The fact that Jacob obtained these blessings through cleverness in a somewhat tricky way teaches us how we should engage nowadays with the descendants of Esau, meaning Amalek. Anyone can see the continuation of Esau, Amalek’s behavior, characterized by terror and violence, still flourishing just before redemption. On the other hand, Esau by itself represented by many nations in the world is already purified enough and ready for redemption.

It can be seen that those who stand on the evil side are the supporters of terror and violence. Those who are on the true side are Jew supporters in their war against pure evil. And the rest are still on the sidelines. The world is entering a new phase of revealing a divine truth. Moshiach is about to finish the last war against pure evil and rebuild the third Holy Temple.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

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 ark, Noah became a farmer and planted a vineyard. He drank the wine and became intoxicated. Noah’s intention was to rectify the spiritual impact of the sin of the Tree of Knowledge by suspending his sense of self through drunkenness, hoping this would bring him joy. However, he soon realized that true joy cannot be achieved by escaping self-awareness through alcohol.

Sarah was the first to experience a truly joyous life, correcting the negative behaviors of Eve and Noah. She understood that joy does not come from self-experience, nor can it be achieved by escaping self-awareness, as Noah tried to do with alcohol. Sarah realized that joy comes from dedicating ourselves to something greater by connecting with G-d.

When Sarah gave birth to a son, she named him Isaac, which means “joy” and “laughter.” Isaac represents the Messianic era, a time when our lives will be filled with endless joy—the joy of serving G-d along with the kingdom of Moshiach. To rise above the ego, one must transcend oneself by becoming part of a larger mission. This mission is to improve the world by serving G-d and adhering to His seven Noahide laws. This will eradicate evil and bring about redemption.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

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 life, help others, and turn the darkness of a chaotic world into light, with the Torah and the 7 Noahide laws.

Only in a bodily form can a soul follow the seven Noahide laws and accomplish its task in this world of deeds. The soul wants to remain in the body because only with the body, through the seven commandments, can it touch the essence of G‑d. That is the significance of every commandment made on Earth. In the future, body and soul will reunite again at the resurrection of the dead. Eternally.

Judaism is more focused on life in the present world than on the afterlife. It teaches that every moment of life is precious and that people should follow God’s commandments to live a righteous and meaningful life. This viewpoint is the opposite of those who have chosen to glorify chaos, death, and terror.

This narrative reminds us of the relationship between the soul and the body. While the soul seeks its connection with the Divine, it also relies on the earthly vessel to fulfill its mission of illumination and observance of the Seven Noahide Laws. In the time of redemption, G-d will terminate the evil and renew the world.

Source: Likutei Sichot, vol. 1

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.

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 skeptic, a man driven by what made sense to him. With his keen, independent intellect, he concluded that there is a single G‑d who is beyond intellect. And so he fearlessly proclaimed to all the world. And then G‑d took this rationalism out from him. The same G‑d who had promised him that Isaac, his son, would be his heir, that same G‑d commanded him, “Take your son, your only son, the one you love, Isaac, and raise him for an offering on one of the mountains that I will show you.”

Reason and understanding had no place here. If you had asked Abraham at this point, “How does this make sense? How can it be resolved?” he would have no answer. Because there was no answer. No logic or reason. That is why, when Abraham finally arrived at the test of sacrificing Isaac all this challenge vanished into thin air.

The Jewish people and the entire world are now experiencing a big test. Kingdoms are teasing one another. The Zohar says that close to the redemption there will be a test. As with Abraham, when standing firm when nothing seems right, when nothing makes sense, and yet we do what we have to do according to the Torah we fulfill the will of G-d who gave the land of Israel to the Jewish people and standing firm without hesitation and without giving any piece of land from the holy land which belongs only to the Jewish people. The Torah promises that finally, we will see the victory that only G-d can give. The test will vanish! Everything that is happening is part of the progress towards Moshiach and redemption.

*This is from a series of articles by Rabbi Bernstein Moshe.