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The scene: Jacob is about to deceive his father Isaac in order to receive the blessing meant for his brother Esau. He's understandably nervous. "Behold," he says to Rebecca, "Esau ...
The scene is set: Jacob, disguised as his brother Esau, deceives his aging and blind father Isaac to receive the blessing meant for the firstborn. The Torah tells us, "He came to h...
In the story of Jacob and Esau, as told in Genesis 27:23, that sense of smell takes on a whole new, almost mystical, significance. The verse tells us, "He did not recognize him, be...
We’re looking at section 66, and it all starts with the phrase, "And may God give you from the dew of the heavens." What’s so special about dew, anyway? The rabbis, masters of clos...
But Jewish tradition, in its beautiful and often poetic way, offers a compelling answer: the people of Israel. to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbin...
The passage revolves around the blessing, "May [God] give you" – in Hebrew, veyiten lekha. But it’s not just a simple wish. The rabbis see layers of meaning, built right into the g...
Can words truly shape destiny? The ancient rabbis certainly did, and they found layers of meaning hidden within the simplest verses. to one of those verses, and see what secrets we...
Our story begins with Esau, the elder twin of Jacob. He approaches his father, Isaac, with a request, a plea for a blessing. Genesis 27:31 tells us, "He, too, prepared delicacies, ...
Indeed, he shall be blessed." But what was that trembling? And why is it so significant? Our sages, delving into the depths of the text, find layers of meaning in that tremor. Bere...
