Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

The highlight of the month of Kislev is the festival of Hanukah. It is a celebration of the victory of the Hasmoneans against the Hellenists. They did not take action because they wanted to but because they had to. The is our way. When we see a clear & present danger, we act.

Isaac was blind to Esau’s faults. He didn’t see that Esau could not be the leader of the next generation. Rebecca was the realist in this matter. She knew that Jacob had the skills to be the leader.

Our enemies do not care if they benefit from their hatred. All they care about is attacking. We, on he other hand care about building and making the world a better place through hard work and keeping God’s Commandments.

Esau does not plan for the future. He wants what he wants, and he wants it now. Jacob thinks things through. He plans for the future by working today.

The key word for this week’s portion is jealousy. Esau is jealous of Jacob. He felt that he was tricked into giving up his birthright. The truth is that he would not have died if he had waited a little to get food. He blamed Jacob for his bad judgement.

The problem with Esau is that he wants instant gratification. Jacob is into delayed gratification. That is what sets off the entire fight between them. And this is why Esau really loses his birthright.

When Abraham dies, Ishmael and Isaac bury him together. They know that they cannot live together but are not fighting each other. By building boundaries they keep the peace between themselves.

The states that Isaac married Rebecca and then he loved her. What we are being taught that that our love for our spouse grows with time.

The conditions that Abraham lays down in what to look for in a wife for Isaac, he is showing that he is concerned about his grandchildren & their morality.

After burying Sarah Abraham realizes that the urgency of getting Isaac a bride. This shows us that Abraham knew that his time was up and now Isaac was the leader. That the mission was what was important, not him.