Tol’dot History – B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9
: Tol’dot (Generations) B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haftorah Readings: Malachi 1:1-2:7
I would like to begin today with a verse that has no connection to my question of the week. However, I believe it has so much to tell us I couldn’t let it go. Look at Genesis 26:28. In this verse we read, “And they said, we have surely seen that the L-rd has been with you.” This verse recounts the words of Avimelech, king of the Philistines in Gerar. They came to Isaac where he was encamped at Beer Sheva.
Sh’mot (Names) Exodus (Sh’mot) 1:1-6:1
Torah Portion: Sh’mot (Names) Exodus (Sh’mot) 1:1-6:1
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 1:1-2:3
Tonight, we begin a new book of Torah. The name of this first portion is Sh’mot in Hebrew. If you translate this word to English it is, “Names” but the book, in English is called Exodus. This book begins by listing the names of the Israelites who went down to Egypt.
Tol’dot (Generations) B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9
Torah Portion: Tol’dot (Generations) B’resheet/Genesis 25:19-28:9
Haftorah Reading Malachi 1:1-27
Today we read a Torah portion that covers much of the live of Isaac, the son of Avraham. Again, there are many spiritual lessons for us in this portion. However, I want us to concentrate on one interesting point.
I would like us to look at verses found in Genesis/B’resheet 26:15-22. In these verses we read of Isaac digging and reopening the wells his father Avraham dug years before in the land of the Philistines. Immediately questions arise of why would the Philistines fill in the wells dug by Avraham in the first place? In verse 15 we read where they stopped them up and filled them with earth. Israel is an arid land, not given to many sources of fresh water. This is especially true for the area where Isaac was living. So, what was the point of closing off a source of fresh water?
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.
Toldot (History) B’Resheet (Gen) 25-28
Torah Portion: Toldot (History) B’Resheet (Gen.) 25-28
HafTorah: Malachi 1:1-2:7
This week we read the only Torah portion devoted to the second of the three patriarchs. It offers us an inside look at the life of Isaac and his family. We read of his going through the Land, interacting with the Philistines and finally the birth of his twin sons Jacob and Esau. It is interesting to note that he is the only one of the three patriarchs to never leave the Land of Israel. In fact when he faces famine G-d instructs him specifically to not leave the Land. (Genesis 26:2)