Isaac, the second Patriarch, has serious neighbor problems. Moving to Gerar, he has repeated conflicts with the local Philistine king, Avimelech, and with the men who work for the king. Residing outside the city, in a dried out river bed, Isaac’s servants dig a well to create a water supply, only so see the king’s servants claim the well. Them move a bit and dig another well, which in turn is confiscated. Finally, with the third well, Isaac and his group are able to drink in peace.   Read more...

In one of the Torah's most dramatic scenes, Jacob – the younger son – appears before his father, Isaac, to receive his father's blessing. Using guile, Jacob disguised as his older brother, Esau, hopes thereby to fool his father into bestowing the blessing which properly belongs to the firstborn. Using his brother's clothing to deceive, the hairless son covers his arms and legs with the fleece of a lamb, to imitate his more hirsute sibling. When Jacob does answer his father's call, he steps forward so that Isaac can touch his arm. Read more...

Esau is surely one of the most tragic figures of the Bible.  He is a simple man, whose robust nature leads him to exult in his own health, strength and energy.  Esau loves to hunt. He revels in the outdoors and in bursting limits. Esau is a man of impulse.  Like Rambo or John Wayne, Esau thrives on his tremendous power, his physical courage and his own inner drives.       Read more...

Isaac is one of the least appreciated of the biblical Patriarchs. While his father, Abraham, was a public leader, the founder of ethical monotheism, and his son, Jacob, established the Jewish People and wrestled with God, Isaac is remembered mostly for being the sacrifice during the Akedah, the binding on Mount Moriah.   In today's Torah portion, we meet that same Isaac -- unimpressive, simply going along and repeating what his more prominent father had innovated in the past.   Read more...