Thoughts that Count For Our Parsha

Jacob went out from Beer-Sheva, and travelled toward Charan (Gen. 28:10)

The Torah is always succinct in its choice of words. The above verse could have said, simply, "Jacob travelled toward Charan." However, the inclusion of the first part of the verse teaches us that the departure of a righteous person from any place makes an impression on it. For, during the time that a righteous person is in a city, he constitutes its glory, its splendor, its own. When he departs, all those things go with him. (Rashi)

A ladder was standing on the ground and the top of it reached to heaven (Gen. 28:12).

Prayer is the ladder that connects our souls with G-d. Although it stands "on the ground," beginning with no more than acknowledgment of G-d's greatness, its top (the Amida, or silent prayer) reaches this level through the prior attainment of understanding inherent in the Shema itself. (Hayom Yom from the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe)

The Hebrew word for "ladder" (sulam) has the same numerical value as "money" (mamon). This teaches us that money is like a ladder - it can be used to ascend and come closer to the heavens, or with it one can descend to the depths. Everything depends on how we use it and for what purpose. (The Baal Shem Tov)

These are the generations of Isaac, the son of Abraham. Abraham fathered Isaac. (Gen. 25:19)

The Midrash says that Isaac crowned Abraham and Abraham crowned Isaac. There are many people who are proud of, and brag about, their ancestry. But their behavior is such that their parents and grandparents are not proud of them. This verse hints that both sides must exist: "Isaac the son of Abraham" - the child is proud of his parents; and "Abraham fathered Isaac" - the parents can be proud of the child. (Likutei Sichot of the Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents. (25:27)

The commentator Rashi explains, "One who is not sharp-minded in deceiving is called simple." The Rebbe of Lublin expounds on this comment: "One who doesn't know how to deceive is, indeed, simple. But, one who knows how to deceive, but refuses to use deception, is called a simple person. He has mastered his simplicity and rules over it. This was true of Jacob who, in his dealings with Laban, chose not to deceive him.T

Reprinted from the 2003/5764 Parashat Toldot edition of L’Chaim, a weekly publication of the Lubavitch Youth Organization