Toldot, meaning ‘generations,’ immediately begins with the stories about Jacob and Esau, Isaac’s twin sons who are destined to be eternal rivals. This week’s Torah portion is truly about Jacob, and the rest of Genesis will focus on the Jacob and Joseph stories.

Through Jacob, the covenant of grandfather Abraham is now transmitted, ultimately to all the sons who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. Through his decision to temporarily move to Egypt, we find the saga of the enslavement of the Israelite family for generations, which allows for God to reveal Himself as the redeemer of the people Israel.

In our portion, Isaac is a shadowy, passive character. Things happen to Isaac. He rarely acts. His wife Rebekkah seems to control his world. He is tricked by Rebekkah, and his younger son Jacob. And the question is: does he knowingly go along with the ruse, or is he truly deceived by his family?

Jacob on the other hand, is depicted as a shrewd and cunning young man, who knows what he wants. For the next five Torah portions, we will witness the evolution of the character of Jacob.

   Join us for an exciting Torah discussion this Shabbat at 9:30 on zoom.