Jacob is finally going to come face to face with his estranged brother Esau at the beginning of this week’s parsha. Twenty years earlier, Jacob had taken advantage of Esau, grabbing Esau’s birthright and stealing Esau’s blessings from their father. Jacob had to flee a...

In this week’s Torah portion, Jacob has escaped from his brother and runs to the house of his uncle Lavan. On his way to his uncle, Jacob dreams of a ladder that stretches up from earth to heavens. There are angels of God ascending and descending the ladder. Jacob...

This week I am excited to have a guest blog from my son Hillel Steinmetz, who is currently studying at Yeshivat Maale Gilboa in Israel. Shabbat Shalom. Parshat Toldot Man's natures have been classically divided into two.  There is the intellectual man and the...

Our parsha is centered on the lives of the twins of Isaac and Rebecca. The twins are different in every way. One afternoon after a long day of hunting, Esav sells his birthright to inherit the possessions of his father, to his brother Jacob for a pot of red, lentil...

This week’s parsha includes the story of finding a suitable bride for Isaac. Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, is told to go to Abraham’s place of birth to look for a wife for his only son Isaac. Eliezer asks Abraham how he will know which young girl to choose. Abraham...

Abraham’s most prominent virtue is loving kindness, or “chesed” in Hebrew.  We read about two events in this week’s Torah reading that exemplify this. At the beginning of the Parsha, Abraham greets strangers passing by his tent and extends his hospitality toward them....

Parshat Vayera Craft Activity- Welcome Mat (From Challahcrumbs.com) Purchase a bamboo or similar plain mat or placemat from the dollar store. Paint or write the word “Welcome” or B”ruchim Habaim” in the center of the mat. Decorate the mat with any type of art supplies...

“And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.” Every day, we face challenges. Some are relatively undemanding, while others are more difficult; and some of those...

Cinnamon Sugar Cookies (from kosherista.com) If you bake these for just the right amount of time they come out real soft and chewy. Shape the cookies into: a) stars- to symbolize the blessing that God gives Abraham that he will have many children, just like the stars...