Parshat Vayetzei

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Jacob's dream of the ladder to heaven, his years working for Laban, his marriages to Rachel and Leah, and the birth of the twelve tribes. Genesis 28:10-32:3.

Esau: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:11

It all boils down to a pot of stew. Genesis 25:29 tells us, "Jacob cooked a stew, and Esau came from the field and he was weary." Simple enough. But within that weariness, and with...

CreationAdam & EveNoah & FloodPatriarchs

Esau: Abraham at the Dawn of Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 63:14

Take the story of Jacob and Esau and that fateful bowl of lentil stew. We often think of it as a simple transaction, a hungry Esau trading away his birthright for a quick meal. But...

CreationPatriarchsMosesSolomon

Rebecca: Abraham and the Origins of the World

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:5

Jewish tradition recognizes that life throws curveballs. But it also offers a comforting perspective: time can be a healer. Our story today comes from Bereshit Rabbah (Genesis Rabb...

CreationPatriarchsMatriarchsElijah

Covenant of Avimelekh

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 64:7

It seems that this feeling, envy, is as old as the hills – or at least as old as the stories in Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Le...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon

Kingdom of Isaac and Esau

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:7

The Torah, and the wisdom of our Sages, are deeply concerned with justice, with making sure the scales are balanced. And the story of Isaac and his sons, Jacob and Esau, is a power...

PatriarchsMosesSolomonEgypt

Birth of Esau and Edom

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:11

Our story comes from Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're diving into chapter 65, which grapples with the character...

CreationPatriarchsSolomonTorah

Esau's Transgression and Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:15

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 ...

CreationDemonsAdam & EvePatriarchs

Rebecca: Esau and Creation

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 65:16

It turns out, even the clothes in the Torah have a tale to spin. to a fascinating Midrash about Esau's special garments, found in Bereshit Rabbah 65. In Genesis 27:15, we read, “Re...

CreationAdam & EvePatriarchsSolomon

Esau's Transgression of Rabbis

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 66:7

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, ...

CreationPatriarchsKing DavidSolomon