Rabbi Kari Tuling: Vayeitzei Growth Requires Truth

Rabbi Tuling writes about Jacob’s resiliency; he goes to sleep destitute, using a rock as a pillow. He wakes up with a dream of blessing and divine promise, which gives him hope to continue his journey. She describes Jacob as passive, rather than deceptive and tricky—he allows his mother to manipulate him and Laban to take advantage of him. How does he rise about family patterns?

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Vayetse The Character of Jacob

Jacob is first described as a simple man, yet he is not at all simple. While Midrash portrays him as “all-good” and Esau as “all-bad”, Jacob tricked his brother and, with his mother, deceived his father. Later, Laban deceives him on his wedding night. The deception continues, yet Jacob became rich. Please follow the link below to read Rabbi Sacks’ perspective on who Jacob was:

Cantor Lori Reisman: Let There Be Peace

Rabbi Sacks addresses the challenging issue of child sacrifice and God’s unfathomable demand of Abraham, to sacrifice his son Isaac.  He brings up the overarching themes in the Torah: God owns the land of Israel, and everything in the world belongs to God.  Thus, God has the right to demand the return of God’s property.  Was Isaac “property”?  According to customs of ancient times, children were considered the property of their parents…

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Parashat Vayera

Rabbi Sacks addresses the challenging issue of child sacrifice and God’s unfathomable demand of Abraham, to sacrifice his son Isaac.  He brings up the overarching themes in the Torah: God owns the land of Israel, and everything in the world belongs to God.  Thus, God has the right to demand the return of God’s property.  Was Isaac “property”?  According to customs of ancient times, children were considered the property of their parents…

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l: Lech Lecha On Being a Jewish Parent

Rabbi Sacks writes of Abraham as the most influential man who ever lived; father of many nations…the founder of faith by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. We know nothing about him, except that he was singled out by God to become “the father of many nations”. Abraham’s life is centered around his role as a father—waiting for a child, birth of Ishmael, tension between Sarah and Hagar, birth of Isaac and the Akeidah…Fatherhood is everything.