Torah Commentary

Jacob's decision to bless each of his sons individually highlights the need to balance unity with diversity.

The complex character of Joseph raises questions about what it means to be righteous.

Jacob blessed his sons, not only according to each of their characters, but also with a unique piece of himself.

Living after the Civil Rights Movement, we, like the children of Jacob, have the opportunity to carry the ideals of previous generations into the future.

Both Jacob and Joseph understood the importance of imbuing their descendants with a commitment to the Land of Israel.

Isaac's birth, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the exile of Hagar and the ultimate sacrifice.

God's presence at Jacob's deathbed teaches us that our reactions to the situations in which we find ourselves determine our spiritual perceptions.

The Joseph story provides us with a domestic model for our national ability to move through reconciliation to solidarity.

A flood destroys all living creatures, aside from Noah, his family and the animals in their ark.

On his deathbed, Jacob blesses his sons and asks them to bury him in Canaan.