Jacob leaves his home and travels to his uncle, Laban. On the way, he rests and dreams of a ladder to heaven with the angels going up and down on it, and he names that place Beit-El (House of God.) When he arrives at Paddan-Aram, he first sees Rachel and
I know there are probably (at least) some of you who are thinking to yourselves, “We can never have too much knowledge!”, and you may be right. I think knowledge is a weapon, and like any other weapon -knife, gun, club – it isn’t the weapon itself that is dangerous but
“What? What are you talking about? How can you say that the creator of the Universe, the all-mighty and all-powerful God of our Fathers can’t do something? He can do anything!” No, he can’t. If you prefer to watch a video, click on this link: Watch the video. He can’t
This parashah contains the narrative of how Jacob “stole” Esau’s birthright. After doing this, he also fooled his father, Isaac, into giving him the blessing of the firstborn Isaac had intended for Esau, so twice Jacob supplanted and “stole” Esau’s rights. If you prefer to watch a video, click on
Here in the United States, today is Thanksgiving Day. If you prefer to watch a video, click on this link: Watch the video. It was originally a day that our first President, George Washington, designated as a day to give thanks for the creation of our National Constitution. Today most
I suppose before we begin this discussion you should know what I mean by “legalism.” If you prefer to watch a video, click on this link: Watch the video. For the purpose of this discussion, legalism is obeying the instructions God gave in the Torah, but not because we want
Sarah dies and Abraham buys a field that also has a sepulcher so that he can bury her. He then has his most trusted servant, Eliezer, go back to the land from which Abraham came, to his own people in order to get a wife for Isaac. Under no conditions,
Too often I hear people talking about grace as if it is synonymous with forgiveness, and forgiveness as if it is synonymous with mercy. It isn’t, and they aren’t. If you prefer to watch a video, click on this link: Watch the video. Grace is the way God shows his
We begin with Abraham sitting under the terebinths just chilling out when three men (who are really angels) appear to him. He performs the usual act of kindness that was culturally expected of him, asking them to stay, wash their feet and giving them food and drink. After partaking of
We are saved by faith…how many times have you heard that said? When you hear it, do you ever think “Am I really faithful?” I do. Every day I try to be more faithful, but what does that mean, really? If you prefer to watch a video, click on this