Torah Commentary

Jacob and his family's evolving relationship with God illustrates the complex struggle with faith and monotheism.

Jacob and the Jewish people have learned powerful lessons from the experience of exile.

By judging others favorably and responding to them with kindness, we add holiness to the world.

Joseph's experience in prison teaches him, and us, that we succeed and flourish when we support those around us.

We can learn from Jacob's encounter with Esau to meet others as we would meet God.

Esau and Jacob are able to reconcile only when each is secure in his achievements.

By asking Jacob his name, his wrestling adversary challenges him to examine himself.

To be fully educated and human we must study a range of disciplines--humanities and sciences, secular and Judaic.

Joseph's status as an outsider, and the outsider status of the Jewish people, allow for critical insight into the deeper truths of the surrounding people.