Torah Commentary

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.

Jacob sends Esau the message that despite having lived with Laban, he has kept the commandments and learned to stand up to powerful figures.

Laban and Jacob's business relationship teaches us about the importance of ensuring ethical working conditions.

How the rabbis tried to make sense of this strange dream.

Jacob's response to his dream provides us with two models of discovering God's presence.

Amalek's personal history may have fueled his descendants' anger towards the descendants of Abraham.

Jacob's response to his dream teaches us to turn our dreams into visions and our visions into reality.

Jacob's covenant with God teaches us that our relationships with God must not be conditional, but rather should be built on trust.