Toldot

Genesis 25:19-28:9

For entire text in Hebrew and English, click here: Genesis 25:19-28:9

In this Torah portion, Rebecca and Isaac have twins, the smooth-skinned Jacob, who Rebecca favors, and the hairy Esau, who Isaac favors. After coming home from a hunting trip, Esau asks his brother for some lentil soup, but Jacob tells him he must trade him his birthright. Years later, when Isaac is old and blind, Jacob tricks his father into giving him the firstborn blessing. Jacob leaves his home, out of fear of his brother, to find a wife at his uncle Laban’s house.

Click here for a summary of Toldot.
Click here for a summary of Haftarat Toldot.

hairy arms of Esau for parashat toldot
Esau’s hairy hands.

Text Studies

Social Action and Environmentalism

Nature Or Nurture
Rabbi Howard Alpert, Hillel

 

Manipulating Food Supply to Gain Power
Rachel Farbiarz, AJWS

 

Rebecca’s Spiritual Crisis
Rabbi Jordan D. Cohen, KOLEL

 

Change is Possible
Rabbi James Maisels, AJWS

 

Only Connect
Rabbi Ruth Gais, Union for Reform Judaism

 

The Work Was Unfinished
Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, AJWS

 

One Jew, Two Opinions
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger

 

Sharing The Blessing
Rabbi Dan Bronstein, socialaction.com

 

Digging Wells, Conserving Water
Rabbi Yuval Cherlow, Canfei Nesharim

 

From the Denominations

Pluralism and Outreach

John Wayne Meets Jacob
Rabbi Bradley Artson, American Jewish University

 

(Un)Conditional Love
Rabbi Shimon Felix, Bronfman Youth Fellowships

 

Valuing Differences
Rabbi Steven Brown, Jewish Theological Seminary

 

All Over Again
Rabbi Kerry Olitzky, Big Tent Judaism

 

Synthesizing The Physical And The Spiritual
Nathan J. Diament, Orthodox Union

 

Overcoming Destiny
Gary Rubin, UJA-Federation of New York

 

Family and Fun

Toldot & Alternative Families
Rabbi Valerie Lieber, Women of Reform Judaism

 

Parshat Toldot Quiz
Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies

 

Parshat Toldot Challah
Julie Seltzer

 

Parshat Toldot for Families
Torah Topics of Today

 

Waiting for the Cookie to Cool
Torah Topics of Today

 

Breaking the Cycle of Deceit
Torah Topics of Today





Return to the index of weekly Torah portions.

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