[For] the fright, which Jacob caused Isaac, it would have been right to curse him. But he who trusts in Hashem will be exalted (Proverbs 29:25). [Isaac] blessed him, saying, “Indeed he shall be blessed” (Genesis 27:33) (Bereishit Rabbah 67:1).
The 1st of Iyar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk (1720or 1730-1788). Rabbi Mendel said: “I do not know where in I could be better than the worm. For see: he does the will of his Maker, and destroys nothing.” ...
People have been having difficulty finding their place ever since Adam and Cain. Adam was sent out from the safe environment of the Garden into a strange world. God told Cain, “You shall become a vagrant and wanderer on earth.” (Genesis 4:12) Abraham wandered for many...
“Who has no slander on his tongue,” [i.e. who is a man of truth and takes pains not to speak deceitfully] (Psalms 15:3). This refers to the patriarch Jacob [who objected to taking the blessing by cunning,] as it is written, “Perhaps father will feel me and I shall appear as a deceiver” (Genesis 27:12) (Makkot 24a).
Ever since the time of Adam we have been struggling with the “Bread” issue. Adam originally could eat the “perfect food” of the trees of the Garden. However, once he sinned, his reality became, “By the sweat of your brow shall you eat bread.” Adam...