Among the several themes that wend their ways through the book of Genesis, one of the most obvious is infertility. Each of the matriarchs – yes, including Leah (Gen. 30:9) – experiences being unable to become pregnant for much of, or at least at some point during her life. In the ancient world, the inability to bear children was a terrible stigma for a woman; down to this day, the experience of infertility for those who wish to bear children and raise a family can be a source of great pain and even sometimes feelings of shame and failure.  Read more...

"And Isaac loved Esau... and Rebekah loved Jacob" (Gen 25:28) Read more...

A college friend of mine recently found me on Facebook. We hadn't spoken to each other since graduation, but I was happy to hear from him. Since we had been out of touch for so long, he began by summarizing the last 15 years of his life. In a few bullet-pointed sentences, he concisely explained how he had started a Ph.D. program, left to work in the corporate world and married and had a child. I was surprised how such a long period of time could be encapsulated so succinctly, and I did my best to describe my adulthood in a few brief sentences. Read more...

It is a singular occurrence to find a husband and wife pray together in the Torah the way we find Yitzchak and Rivka praying together in our Torah portion: "Isaac entreated (va'ye'e'tar) with the Lord on behalf / in the presence (NO'CHACH) of his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord responded to his plea, and his wife Rebekah conceived" (Breishit/Genesis 25, 21). Read more...

It began with the first two human beings born into this world -- the world's first brothers. In the course of time, Cain brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the soil; and Abel, for his part, brought the choicest of the firstlings of his flock. The LORD paid heed to Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering He paid no heed. Cain was much distressed and his face fell. (Genesis 4:3-5) Read more...