Face to Face
Nov 24, 2015 By Anne Lapidus Lerner | Commentary | Vayishlah
The tortured relationship between the twin brothers Esau and Jacob has been a significant element in the two previous parshiyot鈥擳oledot and Vayetze. It is resolved in this week鈥檚 parashah, Vayishlah. Although there is no peace treaty, the resolution is deeply desired by both brothers and reflected both in the undoing of the language that started the problem and in the brothers鈥� truly seeing and acknowledging each other.
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Homecoming
Nov 24, 2015 By Marcus Mordecai Schwartz | Commentary | Vayishlah
In Parashat Vayishlah, Jacob returns to the Land of Canaan after a long absence and finds trouble rather than the comforts of home. He prepares to meet his estranged and potentially violent brother.
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Living into the Mission of Our Lives
Dec 5, 2014 By David Hoffman | Commentary | Vayishlah
What are our greatest fears?
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Jacob’s Fear
Nov 13, 2013 By Arnold M. Eisen | Commentary | Vayishlah
The Torah wants us to identify with the ancestors we meet in the book of Genesis; indeed, Abraham and Sarah and their children become our ancestors when we agree not only to read their stories, but to take them forward. Abraham 鈥渂egat鈥� Isaac in one sense by supplying the seed for his conception. He 鈥渂egat鈥� him as well by shaping the life that Isaac would live, setting its direction, digging wells that his son would re-dig, making Isaac鈥檚 story infinitely more meaningful鈥攁nd terrifying鈥攂y placing him in the line of partners with God in covenant. So it is with us.
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