Where did Yaakov live? Well, in the land of Canaan of course. But listen to the verse, because there is a phrase in it that does not belong. Of course, it contains a beautiful lesson for us about how to live.

What is God saying to Jacob?

God tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply. But the timing makes it very odd that Hashem says this to him.

Take note: Jacob is 11 sons and one daughter into his total of 12 sons and one daughter and the time of this comment. What does God mean to tell him?

The story of his transformation begins, of course, with a dream about a ladder. Interestingly, the terminology and ideas of this passage bring to mind another passage in the torah, one where stones are noted as missing, where Hashem comes down to meet a tower that went up to the sky.

But what is the import of this remarkable parallel? And what is the secret to fatherhood of the tribes?

When Esav heard the words of his father, he cried a cry that was great and very bitter. And he said “bless me as well, father!.”

Esav knows that Yaakov has received the blessing that was intended for him. Hurt and saddened, he begs his father to bless him. Yet, he has no idea what blessing his father gave to Yaakov.

Why is he so desperate for some unknown words?

How do the Children of Chet know that Avraham is a holy man? They are not privy to his prophecies, and there are many wealthy warlords who no one would confuse for a man of God. So what makes Avraham different?

Why did Hashem choose Avraham?

It’s not really a mystery: God tells us Himself in this week’s torah portion. As Hashem says “because I know him, since he will command his children and his household after him and they will keep the path of Hashem, to do righteousness and justice.”

Yet, we may struggle to find an instance where this actually occurred! When does Avraham teach his children what to do?

Avraham will receive the Land of Canaan as a gift... if he takes a walk first. Why is that so important?

Why not send the raven again?

We tend to think that after the flood, Noah first attempted to send a raven to explore the dry land before he sent a dove to do the job.

But there is something essential missing from this picture and most translations do not convey the passage accurately.

Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.

What type of inheritance is this? What is the import of this idea? The Midrash Tannaim gives us the following most beautiful explanation, just in time to begin again.

We can ruin easily ruin our prayers, say the Sages. How, why, and how to avoid this problem addressed in brief in the Parsha Pick-Me-Up.