FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)This week when we go to synagogue we will read the Torah portion Toldot. A highlight of the portion is when Rebecca, who has waited 20 years to conceive, gives birth to Jacob and Esau. Jacob is described as a simple man (Breishit 25:27), which commentators explain means he conducted himself simply with others, careful not to trick or deceive others. He was truthful.
Why did the Torah choose to focus on this character trait of all the exemplar points we assume our forefather had? The Torah commentators, according to a commentary published by the Yeshiva Ohr Somayach, say it is because God wants us to understand how important this particular characteristic is.
Though there are many lessons one can take from Toldot, one of the strongest has to do with human-to-human relations. We learn not to lie, not to twist the truth, not even to get our way. Sometimes, like children, adults need to be reminded not to cut in line (or cut someone off with their car), to be truthful with their friends (and when filling their tax returns), and to require their children to do the same.
Sometimes adults need to remember to emulate our forefather, Jacob.
— Maayan Jaffe
A longer commentary on Vayera is on page 33.
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