This page is dedicated to categorizing and slightly expanding the blurbs of each article on the parsha. Instead of presenting here per how things were written chronologically (in the order of the years each was written), the goal is to divide in the order of the narrative's subject matter.
The Parsha as a Whole
Veterans Day 2018 sermon - How Tensions Ease - 3 Ingredients to Finding Peace, in the aftermath of Pittsburgh shooting, Kristallnacht, and the loss of a young woman in a neighboring community
That was reused without just the Torah references in the following posting
What Triggers the Best of Choices - a study in making important decisions for oneself. Contemplation of one's mortality, which more often happens closer to the end of life than while in the throes of good health and enjoying oneself, is often enough a reminder of what priorities are. Is then too late? Maybe. But it is does give pause to consider that we could have similar thoughts of priorities long before we are at death's door.
Well, You Never Know - on ALL the uncertainties life presents us. This was written in 2020 in the height of COVID and particular attitudes people were having about neighbors who viewed things differently. An attempt at reminding people that while everyone can think the information they have is accurate, with no bias or agenda, and that everyone needs to follow it OR we can realize that one never knows what the future brings, and it is up to each of us to do our best for ourselves and not worry that others are putting themselves (or ourselves) in danger. God is in charge. We take all kinds of risks all the time, and response to an illness that was more politicized than presenting truthful science information was a great example of people forgetting their own humanity in the face of politicking.
Good Parenting Job? Not so easy... - Avraham and Sarah had their positives and negatives in the parenting category. Yitzchak and Rivkah did as well. It is almost universal that after growing up and marrying children think they'll be better parents than their parents were because they won't make all the mistakes their parents made. Alas, this is not so simple. Some people are either gifted or work very hard to be great parents. Others don't work hard at it at all and make different mistakes than their own parents made. And some people, sad to say, are not very good parents at all. Hopefully we all learn from our mistakes and become better parents, when comparing ourselves... to ourselves.
Yitzchak and Rivkah Marriage and Her Pregnancy
Prayer of the Righteous Must Come From the Most Humble Place - Thoughts on Prayer, in light of the Torah's testifying to God responding more to Yitzchak's prayer than Rivkah's. What did each contribute to the effort? Why, in general, were the mothers of the Jewish people all barren before God opened their wombs?
Seeking God in Traumatic Times - Lessons from Rivkah, - Being a Baal (or Baalat) Teshuvah comes with many challenges. But those who face them, continue to grow, and rise to each challenge, become the best of us. They hold themselves down when even after 20,30,40 years they still call themselves "Baal Teshuvah," but their resilience is awe-inspiring
The Love of a Father, the Love of a Mother - An attempt at understanding why Yitzchak's "love for Eisav" seems conditional (and more in the past tense), while Rivkah's "love for Yaakov" is unattached to any reason (and is presented in the present tense). What makes parents have a preference (if it could be described that way) of one child over another? Is this a good parenting strategy? Does it matter if it is unintentional or not completely thought out?
When Identical Twins are Different - A Study in Contrasts - An insight of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch on the realities of embracing children for who they are, putting up their strengths towards proper service of God... and how things can go sour when these opportunities are missed
Yaakov and Eisav - Bechora/Birthright Conversation/Business Arrangement
In Defense of Yaakov's Purchase of the Bechora - A compelling argument for how Yaakov took advantage of a unique opportunity to conduct a proper transaction with Eisav. He did not take advantage of Eisav, nor did he purchase the birthright for a bowl of stew.
Eisav's Attitude in Selling the Birthright (Compared to Yaakov's in Stealing the Blessings) - see how the terminology of the Torah, and specifically the verbs used to describe Eisav's actions vs. Yaakov's when following through with his mother's instructions, and who was keen on giving everything up vs. who was not so on board with taking something he might not have felt worthy of having (though he was likely most worthy on account of that earlier transaction)
Yitzchak's Dealings with Avimelekh
This Land is NOT Your Land, This Land is My Land - why EVERYONE was a stranger in Gerar. There's a funny thing about history. Every land was "conquered" at some time by someone else - either through war or some financial arrangement. So, in essence, no one can really make claims to a land on a basis of being indigenous. That was even the case in Gerar. And it is also the case today when nations have either gotten their lands through blood, treaties to stop bloodshed, or through purchases that included peaceful land exchange. We can fight about it. But it doesn't change currrent realities.
Beer ShEva or Beer ShAva - there are two peace treaties made. One is with Avraham/Avimelekh in Beer ShAva (over the oath / shvuah they share), and one with Yitzchak/Avimelekh in Beer ShEva (over the seventh (שבע) well, which is named shivah שבעה, as well as a new oath). Are these the same place? Different places with similar-sounding names? Does it matter?
But You HATE Me - a Utopian vision for peace in the Land of Israel (posted after the terrorist attack in a synagogue in Har Nof, November 2014) - the reality of the land of Israel, and certain attitudes towards Jews in general in Israel and throughout the world, is that those who wish ill or evil against the Jewish people are consumed with an irrational JEALOUSY that drives their antipathy towards the Jewish people.
Making Peace - Aftermath of Har Nof synagogue massacre (a sermon, November 2014) - time, fear of God, love, and a painful realization that people CAN live together MAY (maybe!) bring a resolution to conflict
Moving Past Hatred - an ode to this most destructive of Middos. With a significant emphasis on the teachings of Orchos Tzadikim with regard to hatred, this was written in a time when political differences and medical decisions (which should be personal and no one else's business) were driving a wedge in society and within the Jewish community. Hopefully we can learn the lesson and never let personal decisions - which are sancrosanct as each person has control over his or her body, and is tasked with taking the best care of it as THEY SEE FIT - be the cause of hatred towards our fellow man.
Jealousy... of What? - Musings about Jew-hatred, an age-old conundrum. Jealousy, after all, is the way the weak respond to their own failings, blaming others and never themselves for their inability to get their house in order or put themselves in a better position in life. It happened in Gerar, and it happens to this very day. Certainly in Israel - and even outside of Israel wherever Jews and anti-Semites find themselves. How difficult it is for people when they don't have Jews to blame!
Diplomacy and Cold Peace is Better than Open Hatred (written a year after October 7 2023) - Animus can remain as long as the front of peace is what carries the day. Egypt has proven that in the peace that has reigned since the Camp David Accords. All of Israel's other enemies just need to accept the reality of the Jewish state, and be content with this little sliver not being part of the larger global caliphate they yearn for. When that happens, Israel and its neighbors can live as did Avimelekh and Yitzchak - in seeing that peace is much more productive than open hostility.
The Blessings as Given to Yaakov and Eisav
Who Said "HaKol Kol Yaakov" - a hypothetical exploration of the vaguaries in the text, when it says "and he said, the voice is the voice of Jacob and the hands are the hands of Eisav..." who is the "he" who said it? In fact, there is a slightly larger exchange between Yitzchak and Yaakov in which the verse seems purposely vague on who is doing what, touching whom, blessing whom, and making this declaration...
The "Stolen" Blessings - Eisav accuses Yaakov of stealing blessings that should have rightfully gone to him. There is a big push in the words of the commentators to suggest Yaakov didn't steal anything, and that anything that came to him was rightfully his on account of the earlier transaction that had taken place between Eisav and Yaakov. Some go so far to say that even when Yaakov said "
Anochi Eisav B'khorekha" that he wasn't lying.
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