Tol’dot (Generations) B’resheet (Genesis) 25-28

Torah Portion:  Tol’dot (Generations) B’resheet (Genesis) 25-28

Haftorah Reading: Malachi 1:1-2:7

Our Torah portion is devoted entirely to Isaac and his family. In fact this is the only portion that gives us much information about the second of the Patriarchs. In our portion we read of many similarities between Isaac and Abraham. Each had to face decades of childlessness, famine, hostile tyrants and rebellious sons. However, they were both very different. Abraham was constantly on the move. Isaac never left the land of Israel. Abraham spent his whole life as a shepherd. Isaac was a shepherd too but he also was a farmer.  Abraham spent his life interacting with people, spreading his faith in God. We see very little of this in Isaac’s life. Isaac was a digger of wells. We read of his digging of wells here in this portion.

Vaetchanan (And I pleaded) Deut. 3

Torah Portion: Vaetchanan (And I pleaded) Deut. 3:23-7:11

HafTorah: Isaiah 40:1-26

Matt. 23:31-39, Mark 12:28-34

In this section of scripture there are many important subjects covered: Mt. Sinai, Ten Commandments, Moses pleading with G-d to enter the Land, the Shema. But tonight I want to start with the question I sent out from Deut. 4:4, “But you who held fast to the L-rd your G-d are alive today, everyone of you.” What does it mean to “hold fast” ? In Hebrew the word is “Had-vachem” included in this word is the root for stick or glue. How do we do it? And how do we keep doing it? What happens if we don’t stay stuck to G-d?