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Divrei Torah

Upper School Video Divrei Torah

Divrei Torah from the Middle School

In Parshat Vayishlach, Yaakov is on his way to meet his brother Esav for the first time after many years. In the middle of the night, he wrestles with God or an angel. He is then told that his name will no longer be Yaakov: he will now be called Yisrael, meaning one who struggles with God. To help understand this episode more deeply, it may be useful to consider these questions: What kind of person was Yaakov, and what kind of life did he lead? 

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks describes...

Read More about 5785 Parshat Vayishlach Dvar Torah by Nachum Lerner

One of the most fascinating parts of this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayetze, is Yaakov’s dream about the ladder with the angels ascending and descending. As the Torah states (28:12): 

“וַֽיַּחֲלֹ֗ם וְהִנֵּ֤ה סֻלָּם֙ מֻצָּ֣ב אַ֔רְצָה וְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ מַגִּ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה, וְהִנֵּה֙ מַלְאֲכֵ֣י אֱלֹהִ֔ים עֹלִ֥ים וְיֹרְדִ֖ים בּֽוֹ׃”

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to Heaven: and behold the angels of G-d ascending and descending on it.” Ultimately, the dream...

Read More about 5785 Parshat Vayetze Dvar Torah by Tzipora Ross