Where was Dina?
Yaakov was preparing for his encounter with Esav. He transferred the entire family across the river. Yet the Torah seems to miss out the mention of one person – Dina. Rashi (32:23) commenting on the transfer, states that Dina was…
Explain Yourself
Yaakov Avinu was instructed by his parents to go to the house of Lavan to find himself a spouse. He ended up marrying Lavan’s daughters, Rachel and Leah, for whom he worked tirelessly for fourteen years, to be able to…
Parasha Insights
After seven years of working hard for Lavan in order to marry his daughter Rachel, and eager to build the next block in Am Yisrael, Yaakov awakens in the morning and is stunned to find out that he has been…
Parasha Insights
Truth is one of the pillars of the world. (Avot 1:18). The Gemara stresses the importance of speaking the truth by relating that it was due to a lack of honest men that Jerusalem was destroyed (Shabbat 119). Furthermore someone…
Was Yitzhak a Blind Fool?
Yitzhak is getting old. Fearing that his final days are approaching, he calls upon his favoured son, Esav, desiring to bless him. Rivkah hears Yitzhak’s instructions to his son and intercepts the call. She quickly commands their son, Yaakov, to…
Hagar is Keturah
Commenting on the verse, “Avraham took another wife whose name was Keturah.”[1] Rashi comments that this was in fact Hagar who Avraham had previously separated himself from. As to the sudden change in name Rashi comments that she is called Keturah…
