Has Isaac’s blessing to Esau haunted or assisted the Jewish people? View this video directly on VIMEO
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With the long winter nights now starting so early, I have started to think about day and night and their significance in Jewish thought. We know that in secular law, the calendar day starts and ends at midnight, however, in Jewish tradition the day starts the evening beforehand. So for example, Shabbat, starts Friday evening around sunset and it ends on Saturday night when the stars come out. So both ...
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Jacob, Esau and The Dangers of Education – Toldot 5781
A child MUST be educated according to the needs of the child. Rabbi Becher explains the disaster that ensued when this rule wasn't followed for Esau... View this video directly on VIMEO
Read MoreJust think what could have been… View this video directly on Vimeo
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Don’t Treat Your Children the Same! – Toldot 5780
The method of education that worked for Jacob did not work for Esau. We should not try to put all our children into the same "mold" and instead educate them in the way that is fitting for each individual one. View this video directly on Vimeo.
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I am reading “Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology” to prepare for my upcoming Torah Safaris of the Camden Adventure Aquarium and the Atlanta Aquarium. The author, although putting the word “design” in quotes, keeps using the word when talking about the incredible senses, anatomy and structure of fish that are perfectly designed, oops, adapted for its aquatic environment. Now, to me reading about the creatures of the sea (about 30,000 ...
Read MoreIn this week's Parsha, Jacob brings his father a surprise gift while impersonating his twin brother. Tune in to Harry Rothenberg's Parsha Blog to find out what it was. View this video directly on VIMEO
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Rabbi Becher's VLOG
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Jacob, Esau and Risk Taking – Parshat Toldot 5778
What did Yitzchak see in his son Esau that he favored him over his son Jacob? View this video directly on Vimeo.
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One of the most fundamental principles of Judaism is the belief in human free will. No one is born righteous, and no is born evil; it is the person’s choice to be good or evil. Morality, reward and punishment, and indeed the entire purpose of creation, are all predicated upon free will. In this week’s portion, Toldot, the Torah describes Esau as a “man of the field, a cunning hunter” ...
Read MoreEsau begs his father Isaac for a consolation blessing after Yaakov gets the main prize. Isaac relents and gives Esau a blessing that still reverberates today. Harry Rothenberg tells us what that blessing is. View this video directly on VIMEO
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