Jacob
Hear, O Israel, our father, we dedicate our lives to revealing the One in all things.
After running away from his brother Esau, Jacob marries the sisters Rachel and Leah (and their maidservants) and the twelve tribes of Israel are born. Wrestling with an angel leaves Jacob limping and with a new name – Israel. When famine strikes the land of Canaan, Jacob and the family Israel descends to Egypt, where they reunite with Joseph. Jacob lives in Egypt for seventeen years. Before his passing, Jacob calls in all the tribes, our grandparents, and blesses them to continue the legacy and purpose begun with Abraham – to turn this fragmented universe into a unified home for the Divine. In a royal funeral, Jacob is accompanied back up to Israel where he is buried in Hebron with his wife and ancestors.
Jacob and Esau: The Battle between Good and Evil
Lessons on confrontation and peace: how to balance matter and spirit and merge the body and soul
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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.
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The Inner Struggle of Good vs. Evil: Jacob and Esau Within Us
In this week’s Torah Portion, Toldot, twins are born to Rebecca and Isaac. Esau and Jacob, two brothers with very different storylines; one a warrior, one a scholar. The battle between these two brothers is alive and kicking within each of us today.
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Strength 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.
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9/11: 13 Years Later
Learn about this historical and religious war, which must be fought with ideas, education and ideology. Discover how we can shape destiny.
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Can You Change Your Destiny?
Learn from Jacobs blessings the method to writing the script of your own life, and transcending even the parts of your life that are not in your control.
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It’s All in the Details
G-d is in the details. Discover how small little matters contain the ultimate greatness, but only when they are infused with vision.
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Are 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.
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Masquerade Ball
Discover within the courage to be present; to allow the true you to emerge and express itself. Maybe it’s time to free yourself from your masks.
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Bamidbar/Shavuot: After 3336 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?
Israel is under attack, yet again. As we stand in proximity of Shavuot, when we relive the revelation at Sinai, this may be the best time to demand accountability of the Arab/Muslim world for their actions, and to call the rest of the world to demand a response.
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The Big Confrontation – Jacob & Esau Meet
Each of us must ask ourselves the question: Is my material life aligned with my spiritual one? Have I integrated what I do with who I am?
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Night Stalkers
The stranger was Esau’s guardian angel, and the battle represented the struggle between Jacob and Esau, archetypes of the two polar forces in existence which stand in perpetual battle.
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A Mother’s Tears
Rachel exemplifies compassion and enables us to recognize our inherent value by virtue of the fact that every single person was created in the Divine Image.
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Shavuot: The Twins – Duality & Unity
The concept of duality in matters of body and spirit are examined with respect to the opposing natures of twins Jacob and Esau.
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The Dislocated Hip
By remembering Jacob’s wound we sensitize ourselves to the fact that mindless immersion in material existence touches a nerve which leaves us wounded.
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End of Book One – Jacob Never Dies
Jacob and Joseph always remind us that we can overcome any challenge. When we hold onto our faith in G-d and His promises, then we will always prevail.
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Massacre in San Bernardino
What can we do about the massacre in San Bernardino? Joseph’s clash with his brothers teaches us how to repair and heal the world. We must begin by repairing ourselves and integrating faith in our actions.
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The Plot Thickens – Jacob & Esau: Two Nations
We now have before us Abraham, father of all nations, Ishmael father of the Arab/Muslim world, Esau, father of the Roman/Christian/Western world and Jacob, father of the Jewish world.
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Name and Number
In the Book of Shmot, G-d counts and names the Children of Israel as they head into Egypt and again at their deaths to show His infinite love for them.
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Forbidden 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.
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Jacob’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.
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Oil 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.
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Double Identity
Discover how we, as Jews, contain both elements of the name Jacob and Israel. Learn about our double identity as Servants of G-d and Children of G-d.
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The Disposable Self
The closer one comes to G-d, the more one realizes one’s own insignificance in the face of the divine infinity.
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Joseph’s Calf
Jacob and Joseph teach us about our responsibility for things that are in our control and even that which happens outside of our control.
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Mixed Feelings
Jacob teaches us the proper perspective of exile; refusing to become reconciled with it or accepting it as a state that is normal or comfortable.
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Few and Deficient
Jacob teaches us what it means to lead a righteous life; a life of purpose, altruism and compassion.
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Life, Death and Reality
Discover a new perspective on death from the scope of spiritual reality. Learn how Torah operates within the confines of nature but is not limited by it.
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Life After Life
The story of how Jacob lived, which is an eternal lesson regarding the true meaning of life.
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Redigging the Wells of Love
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are the forefathers from whom we learn Jewish values. In Abraham we see a fountainhead of Jewish generosity and social commitment.
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The Duplicity of the Jew
The Jew dresses in Esau’s clothes, but he refuses to allow the clothes to make the man.
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The Determined Chooser
“Choice vs. Determinism.” How much control do we really have over our actions?
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The Spiritual Meaning of Straw
Esau wished to tithe the straw of life, to attribute spiritual worth to animal fodder. Instead of exploiting the material to serve the spiritual, he wished to invest the material with a significance and value of its own, which is the spiritual meaning of straw.
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Jacob and Rachel
Learn about the male and female spiritual duality as illustrated by Jacob and Rachel, “the choicest of the Patriarchs,” and the quintessential mother of Israel.
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Vaeira: Why 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?
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Vayeitzei: 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.
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Toldot: Our Response to Tragedy
The Jewish response to a gruesome attack, is to channel all our outrage and fury into a spiritual eruption of building an even stronger Jerusalem, both physically and spiritually.
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Vayishlach: Hypocrisy
Instead of seeing hypocrisy in our inconsistencies, we should be seeing in them our struggle to discover our true selves—a struggle that inevitably creates a dichotomy between what you believe and what you do.
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Vayishlach: Giving In Difficult Times
The words of the Zohar speak for themselves. They tell us in no uncertain terms that we must stand against any voice and challenge (including economic conditions) that argues against supporting (or weakening our support of) good causes.
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Vayeitzei: Responding To Mumbai
Rabbi Simon Jacobson discusses the tragic 2008 killing of the Holtzbergs, Chabad shluchim, in Mumbai, India.
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Vayeitzei: 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.
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The Dust of History
The cosmic struggle to reconcile spirit and matter are captured in the story of Jacob and Esau and the battle between these two opposing forces.
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Vayeitzei: 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.
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Toldot: The Power of Human Exertion
Who fully grasps a concept, one who immediately comprehends it, or one who must struggle to understand it? Part five of Samech Vov discusses this question, and examines the value of human exertion.
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Bamidbar: After 3316 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?
Parshat Bamidbar: Sinai created an interface bridging heaven & earth, giving us the power to fuse matter & spirit entirely without compromising either or.
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Vayechi: Do our Shadows have Substance?
Embracing the duality of life in both its light and dark dimensions may not lead to nirvana, but will allow one to peacefully navigate the dynamic waters.
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Vayeishev: Kislev 19 in Babylon
History is a continuum. Peace in our lifetime will only be possible if we make peace with the rifts of our past, acclimating the world to our own souls.
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Vayetze: 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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Pekudei: Two Faces of Esau
The story of Esau’s wedding leads to a two-faced world where some people struggle with G-d and justice while others demonstrate great pride in their faith.
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