Toldot tells the story of Isaac and Rebecca’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, who struggle in the womb and seem destined to clash throughout their lives and those of their descendants. This pivotal parsha contains two great passages: the birth and childhood of the boys, and the scene in which Jacob, at Rebecca’s behest, dresses in Esau’s clothes and takes…
…He would ask him questions such as, “Father, how do we tithe salt and straw?” knowing that in fact these were exempt from tithe. Isaac thought that meant that he was scrupulous in his observance of the commandments (Rashi to Gen. 25:27; Tanchuma, Toldot, 8). [3] See Jonathan Sacks, Not in God’s Name, pp. 107-124. [4] Genesis Rabbah 65:10. [5]…
…All these interpretations are based on the textual clues cited in what follows. [2] For a more detailed explanation, see Jonathan Sacks, Covenant and Conversation Genesis: The Book of Beginnings, Maggid Books, 2009, 153-158, 219-228. [3] This later became the tenth of the Ten Commandments. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR TOLDOT Do you think Rebecca and Jacob were morally justified in their behaviour in this story?…
The Parsha in a Nutshell Toldot tells the story of Yitzchak and Rebecca’s twin sons, Yaakov and Esau, who struggle in Rebecca’s womb and seem destined to clash throughout their lives and those of their descendants. It contains two great passages: the birth and childhood of the boys, and the scene in which Yaakov, as suggested by Rebecca, dresses in…
The Summary This summary is adapted from this week’s main Covenant & Conversation essay by Rabbi Sacks. Even before their birth, Yaakov and Eisav struggled in the womb, destined to be eternal opposites. As they grew, Eisav became a skilful hunter who was loved by Yitzchak, while Yaakov was quieter, more prone to Torah study, and favoured by Rivka. Rivka’s…
The Parsha in a Nutshell Parshat Toldot tells the story of Yitzchak and Rivka’s twin sons, Yaakov and Esav, who fought with each other even before they were born! Rivka had been told that although Esav would be born first, Yaakov would be the one to continue the Jewish people. But Yaakov wasn’t sure of this and one day he…
…Dr. Samuel Lebens is a professor of philosophy at the University of Haifa. His latest book is ‘A Guide for the Jewish Undecided.’ A Closer Look Delving deeper into the thoughts shared by Rabbi Sacks on Toldot, now Rabbi Lebens shares his own reflections on the main piece of the week. What was your main takeaway from ‘A Father’s Love’?…
Even before they were born, Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb. They were destined, it seems, to be eternal adversaries. Not only were they were different in character and appearance. They also held different places in their parents’ affections: The boys grew up, and Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a…
…Birth of Forgiveness”. [2] Yevamot 65b. [3] Midrash Sechel Tov, Toldot, 27:19. [4] Isaiah Berlin, ‘Two Concepts of Liberty,’ in Isaiah Berlin, Henry Hardy and Ian Harris, Liberty: Incorporating Four Essays on Liberty. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2002. See also the important work by Stuart Hampshire, Morality and Conflict. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1983. [5] Bereishit Rabbah 8:5. [6] Thomas Nagel, The View From Nowhere, New York, Oxford University Press,…