Vayeitzei

HOW TO MAKE IT BACK HOME This week’s parashah covers the twenty-year period in which Ya’akov Avinu lived in Padan Aram with his father-in-law Lavan.  In the end, Ya’akov returned to Eretz Yisrael, making him the first Jew (since Avraham received the commandment of Lech Lecha) to dwell in Chutz LaAretz for an extended period…

Toldos

DWELL IN THE LAND There was a famine in the Land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Avraham; and Yitzchak went to Avimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.  The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell (שכן) in the Land that I shall tell…

Vayeira

THE GREATER TEST R’ Levi bar Chita said: “[The Torah] says lech lecha twice [once in the beginning of last week’s parashah – Go forth from your land…to the Land that I will show you (12:1), and once in the story of Akeidat Yitzchak – Please take your son…and go forth to the land of…