Vayeitzei
Sometimes tricks are really treats. And sometimes treats are really tricks.
Running from his brother, Jacob stops to rest along the way. Jacob lies down upon a mount and dreams of a ladder bridging heaven and earth, upon which angels descend and ascend in a celestial ballet. The Creator appears and promises Jacob that the land upon which he lies will be the land of his descendents. Jacob pledges in return to turn this place into a home for the Divine. Jacob arrives in Laban’s house, where he falls in love with Rachel. Jacob works for seven years to win her hand. Under the wedding canopy, Laban switches Rachel for her older sister Leah. Jacob works another seven years to marry Rachel as well. Eleven of the twelve tribes are born.
Jacob’s Ladder: A Lesson on the Ups and Downs of Life
In this week’s Torah Portion, Vayeitzei, Jacob dreamed of a ladder standing on the ground. A ladder by definition goes two days: up and down. If we risk going up, we may fall down, but if we never attempt that first step – we will never rise.
Read MoreWhat Are Your Three Greatest Passions?
Ask yourself: What are your three greatest passions? Whatever your answer may be, identifying your passions holds the key to recognizing your priorities.
Read MoreWhat Do You Dream About?
Discover how dreams offer you a glimpse into another reality, open up new channels of  creativity and intelligence, and transform your conscious existence.
Read MoreStrength in Face of Fear; Build What Our Enemy Seeks to Destroy
Learn how to deal with fears in face of menacing forces that threaten us and how to develop the courage and fortitude necessary to take on any challenge.
Read MoreAre You Trapped?
Is there a way to reach heaven while keeping our feet firmly planted on the ground? Discover how a simple ladder can take us on a journey into eternity.
Read MoreThe Fall and Rise of Nations and Overcoming Fear
Overcoming fear: To face the transitions and battles of life you must fortify your inner life. You must build a strong inner core – a home and family that provides you with the security and confidence to handle any force or enemy from without.
Read MoreWhy is Paris Burning?
Inside “secrets” provide perspective to current events in France — and the world — illuminating for us: why is Paris burning? Why is France, of all places, at the forefront of today’s upheavals?
Read MoreVayeitzei: Balance
The Torah chapters from the beginning of Genesis outline the story of our life’s mission and from here we can learn much about ourselves…
Read MoreForbidden Piety
Ultimately, we must recognize and utilize the fact that the Torah is the only source of life and well-being for the Jew, both spiritually and physically.
Read MoreMy Encounter With The Rebbe
“When the Creator of the world gives us a gift, we must treasure it and defend it, and not look for ways to rid ourselves of it!” – The Rebbe
Read MoreJacob’s Oath
An integral part of G-d’s dwelling is a human self for whom “G-d is my G-d”—for whom a life in the service of the Almighty is deeply satisfying.
Read MoreOil and Rock
Oil represents a person’s self-abnegation and submission to G-d. Only one who has totally abnegated his own will to that of G-d is capable of true sacrifice.
Read MoreThe Prisoner
An old chassidic story that exemplifies the awe chassidim have for their Rebbe.
Read MoreThe Bottom Line
Discover how the unity of G-d can infiltrate even the most mundane of activities.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Overcoming Fear
Overcoming fear: To face the battles of life you must first fortify your inner life. You must build a strong inner core – a home and family that provides you with the security and confidence to handle any force or enemy from without.
Read MoreA Day in the Life of a Jew
As Jews, however, we are also guided by a more subtle calendar, a more spiritual clock: the calendar and clock of history. As Jews, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are as central to our concept of morning, noon and evening as the sun’s arc across the sky; Adam, Moses and King David mark our year as prominently as the turning of the seasons; and the twelve sons of Jacob, progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel, are as basic to our daily schedule as the twelve numerals etched on our clock-face or the twelve spiral-bound pages hanging on our wall.
Read MoreVayeitzei: The Root of Arab Rage
Sometimes the most obvious truths are not stated and acknowledged because we fear the unknown. But then when we do acknowledge them we begin to realize that we have the power to face the challenge.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Mr. Buffett: Meet Mr. Bogolubov
Let us usher in the economy of the future, one infused with heart and soul – a paradigm unlike anything we have ever seen.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Jewish Roots
Perhaps the venerable New York Times can learn a thing or two about “all the news that’s fit to print” from living with the times in this week’s Torah portion.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Responding To Mumbai
Rabbi Simon Jacobson discusses the tragic 2008 killing of the Holtzbergs, Chabad shluchim, in Mumbai, India.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Marriage: Destiny or Chance?
Is marriage predestined or dependent on your efforts? There are many opinions but all agree that though G-d’s predestined it we have the power to change it.
Read MoreVayeitzei: Before the Battle
Jacob’s descent to Charan and subsequent struggles in Laban’s household represent our own difficulties in this world, and indicate the necessity of bringing light to the darkest places.
Read MoreVayetze: Rhythm
The soul’s restlessness is our healthiest response to a world that just doesn’t seem right. Don’t fight your restlessness; learn how to dance the dance.
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