Toldot Text message

Parashat Toldot (Generations)

Life is not always lineal and direct. We will always find people who will cheat, will not treat you as you expect, and try to take advantage of you.  

In this section it is our forefather, Jacob, who will cheat his father and steal the blessing from his brother. Jacob has the same root in Hebrew as “crooked,” while “Israel” has the same root as straight and honest.

What will Jacob use in order to cheat? Garments.  The words begged (garment), and meil (coat) are related to two other terms in Hebrew. Begged has the same root as traitor (bogged), and meil has the same root as meilah, a type of stealing and cheating.  

Watch out!!! Some people may dress very well but under the garments they may hide some things…

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher, Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak z”l.

Vayera text Message

Parashat Vayera (Hashem appeared)

The story of Sodom and Gomorra is very special.

At some point, the people who were trying to hurt God's messengers became blind.

“And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they wearied themselves to find the door” (Gen 19:11)

Apparently there is a contradiction in the verse. The “bad guys” were at the entrance, they became blind and now they could not find the entrance, but the text already mentioned that they were at the entrance!!!

A proposed explanation: Each of them wanted to be at the entrance; they were fighting for the same thing, and therefore, nobody could find it…

If we talk instead of fight, if we make sure there is enough for everybody, if we understand others’ needs, even if we all are blind, many doors will be opened.

In memory of my beloved mother and teacher, Miriam Rachel bat Israel Itzchak z”l.