Standing before his father Isaac, Jacob claims that he is his brother Esau (Genesis 27:19). While some commentators rationalize Jacob’s behavior, others insist that, for the rest of his life, he is ...

can give to make it better. Be even nicer. Marry a nice someone or other. Have kids, or a kid, or no kids. Make them read this. that make your hair fall out. Like Jacob, I won’t be here forever. So ...

As Jacob leaves his parents’ home at the behest of his mother, Rebecca, the Torah declares that Rebecca was the mother of both Jacob and Esau (Genesis 28:5). At first blush, this seems to be an ...

The Torah in Parshat Toldot narrates the story of the rivalry between Jacob and Esau. The Torah states that Isaac loved Esau, and Rebecca, Isaac’s wife, loved Jacob. We are told that when Isaac became ...

One of Parshat Toldot’s main themes is Yitzchak’s unique status, what Rashi calls his being an olah temimah, a pure offering. That is the reason Rashi gives to explain why he didn’t follow Avraham’s ...