Weekly Torah Commentary

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.

Recognizing that Creation and many natural phenomena are clouded in mystery can actually enrich our lives with meaning.

Through his experiences with his nephew Lot, Abraham learns valuable parenting skills.

Rather than dividing the spiritual and physical blessings between Jacob and Esau, Rebecca saw the need for Jacob to receive both.

The greatest tributes to Sarah's life were the achievements and character of her son Isaac.

Reflected in the names of her children, Leah grows to recognize her own worth, independent of Jacob's feelings for her.

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.

Jacob and Rebecca teach us that we can alter our fates and achieve greatness.