Birthright

Found 12 Search results

  1. The Birthright

    Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

    The story of the sale of the birthright is one of the strangest stories in all of the Torah. Why does Yaakov want to buy the birthright? Can a birthright really be 'bought' or 'sold'? Is Yaakov exploiting Esav's weak state, forcing him to sell the birthright against his will? 

    By closely examining this story and the stories in all of Sefer Bereishit, we notice that one of the most important themes of Sefer Bereishit is the matter of Divine chosenness. Throughout the Sefer we grapple with the question of who is chosen. Who is God choosing to represent God's way in the world? And throughout the Sefer, the one who is chosen is not the firstborn. The entire Sefer teaches that the physical fact of being the eldest does not automatically ensure the right to the firstborn blessing. God chooses the person who is worthy of receiving the blessing. God's blessing is given on the basis of merit, not chronology.

  2. Esav and the Birthright - Fear and Scorn

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  3. The Sins of Biblical Figures

    Part 2

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    Two fundamental approaches exist regarding three incidents involving Avraham: one maintains that the plain reading of the text suggests that the acts in question were wrong – perhaps even serious sins – and are recorded with a view to instructing the readers how not to behave. The other view seeks to cast their actions in a positive light and regards them as a model for emulation.

    Those who seek a favorable interpretation of all questionable actions of biblical characters rely, as one of their central sources, on a well-known discussion in Massekhet Shabbat (55b-56b) which lists six figures who seem, according to the plain text, to have committed various transgressions – some of them extremely serious ones. In each case, Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani teaches, in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, that "anyone who says that so-and-so sinned, is simply mistaken."

  4. "Selling" the Birthright: Rav Hirsch and Rav David Tzvi Hoffman

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  5. Yaakov and Esav's Discussion of the Birthright: A Natural Transfer

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  6. Squandering the Birthright

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  7. Selling the Birthright - Or Sacrificial Rites?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  8. Toldot: What Happened to the Prophecy about Yaakov?

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 22 minutes

    In this shiur, we ask: What happened? After the prophecy Rivka received about the struggle of her two sons, and the fight over the birthright, what is the bottom line? Who ends up with the birthright or ascendancy? We see from  the continuing stories that  it is a bit confusing, and very unclear. Yaakov appears to walk away with everything at first - but is that the case? He is forced to flee, and when he returns to Canaan he seemingly grovels to Esav and possibly even "returns" the bracha. We look at different approaches to the text and to the different turns of events, and we also examine different approaches to the nature of prophecy. Is prophecy as strong as our own choices?

  9. Toldot: The Birthright - Lentil Stew Exchange

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

  10. Ki Teitzei: The Hated Wife

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this video, we discuss the Torah's laws about a man with two wives, one who he loves, and one who he hates. Rabbi Fohrman suggests that this legal section of text is a hint to the story of Jacob and his wives. Watch the next video to learn more!

     
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  11. Ki Teitzei: The Hated Wife - Part 2/2

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this video, Rabbi Fohrman goes into detail about the man who hates one of his wives, and its parallels to Jacob, Leah, Rachel and their children, and suggests that the Torah is offering us a different path that can bring peace to our families and our homes.

     

     
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  12. Parshat Toldot Part 1: Yaakov and Esav

    Rabbi Gad Dishi | 30 minutes

    The beginning of Parshat Toldot presents a conclusion to the Avraham stories, as well as an introduction to Yaakov and Esav’s lives;  the meaning of birth order, prophecy, and birthright. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com