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Parshas Toldos is the ultimate masterclass in parenting, love, perseverance, and the eternal tug-of-war between heaven and earth. When Rivka feels her twins fighting in the womb, she is terrified that she is carrying one confused child who is pulled toward both holiness and idolatry. The prophet calms her with the shocking news: “Shnei goyim b'vitnech – two nations are in your womb.” Instead of despairing, she is relieved. Why? Because, as Rabbi Wolbe explains, “the benefit and greatness of Yaakov is so immense that it will supersede all the negative that she will ever experience from Esav.” One pure Yaakov is worth more than all the damage a thousand Esavs can do.The Torah then paints a seemingly troubling picture: “Isaac loved Esav because he put game in his mouth, but Rivka loved Yaakov.” How can holy parents play favorites? The answer redefines love itself: “Love is not finding similarities — love is seeing the potential in the other person and connecting to that.” Isaac gazed at wild, powerful Esav and thought, “If this explosive energy is ever channeled for good, he could move mountains.” Rivka looked at quiet, tent-dwelling Yaakov and saw pure, undiluted holiness already shining. Both parents loved both sons — they simply poured their energy into the child whose hidden potential moved them the most. This becomes the model for all healthy parenting and marriage: every child is your favorite — favorite scholar, favorite artist, favorite comedian, favorite mensch — because “each one is uniquely different… you're not comparing apples to apples, you're comparing apples to oranges to bananas.”For 63 long years Yaakov lives in his wicked brother's shadow. Esav hunts, flatters, and cleverly asks questions like “How do you tithe salt?” just to appear pious and win Isaac's heart. Yaakov, meanwhile, clings only to the “heel” of spirituality — always second place, always doubting, always wondering, “Maybe my father is right and I'm wrong.” Yet he never once compromises. At 63 he finally cooks the lentil stew that wins the blessings, proving that “spiritual growth is always at the heel — slow, painful, and full of doubt — but the tzaddik never quits.” As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declares: “Quitters always finish first. If you want to win, you can't quit — ever.” And again: “The natural state of a tzaddik is to fall seven times… but the falling is not what we emphasize — it's the getting back up.”The parsha ends with two beautiful side lessons. First, Eliezer (from the cursed lineage of Canaan) is rejected as a match for Isaac, yet when he remains loyally devoted to Avraham despite the insult, Hashem rewards him with kfitzas haderech — miraculous instant travel reserved only for the righteous. Loyalty and perseverance turn even a “cursed” person into a tzaddik. Second, the same dynamic of “investing in the child who needs it most” repeats with Yaakov and Yosef: Yaakov favors Yosef not out of nepotism, but because he sees the unimaginable trials awaiting him in Egypt and knows, “This one is going to need extra love to survive and triumph.”_____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on November 25, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 3, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #ParentalLove, #Resilience, #Family, #Rebecca, #Isaac, #Esau, #Jacob, #Potential, #Growth, #Yetzirah, #EvilInclination, #Choices, #Challenges, #Yosef, #Destiny, #Potential, #JewishHistory, #Mitzrayim, #Trials, #Yitzchak, #Complexity, #Struggle ★ Support this podcast ★
Parshas Toldos is the ultimate masterclass in parenting, love, perseverance, and the eternal tug-of-war between heaven and earth. When Rivka feels her twins fighting in the womb, she is terrified that she is carrying one confused child who is pulled toward both holiness and idolatry. The prophet calms her with the shocking news: “Shnei goyim b'vitnech – two nations are in your womb.” Instead of despairing, she is relieved. Why? Because, as Rabbi Wolbe explains, “the benefit and greatness of Yaakov is so immense that it will supersede all the negative that she will ever experience from Esav.” One pure Yaakov is worth more than all the damage a thousand Esavs can do.The Torah then paints a seemingly troubling picture: “Isaac loved Esav because he put game in his mouth, but Rivka loved Yaakov.” How can holy parents play favorites? The answer redefines love itself: “Love is not finding similarities — love is seeing the potential in the other person and connecting to that.” Isaac gazed at wild, powerful Esav and thought, “If this explosive energy is ever channeled for good, he could move mountains.” Rivka looked at quiet, tent-dwelling Yaakov and saw pure, undiluted holiness already shining. Both parents loved both sons — they simply poured their energy into the child whose hidden potential moved them the most. This becomes the model for all healthy parenting and marriage: every child is your favorite — favorite scholar, favorite artist, favorite comedian, favorite mensch — because “each one is uniquely different… you're not comparing apples to apples, you're comparing apples to oranges to bananas.”For 63 long years Yaakov lives in his wicked brother's shadow. Esav hunts, flatters, and cleverly asks questions like “How do you tithe salt?” just to appear pious and win Isaac's heart. Yaakov, meanwhile, clings only to the “heel” of spirituality — always second place, always doubting, always wondering, “Maybe my father is right and I'm wrong.” Yet he never once compromises. At 63 he finally cooks the lentil stew that wins the blessings, proving that “spiritual growth is always at the heel — slow, painful, and full of doubt — but the tzaddik never quits.” As Rabbi Wolbe powerfully declares: “Quitters always finish first. If you want to win, you can't quit — ever.” And again: “The natural state of a tzaddik is to fall seven times… but the falling is not what we emphasize — it's the getting back up.”The parsha ends with two beautiful side lessons. First, Eliezer (from the cursed lineage of Canaan) is rejected as a match for Isaac, yet when he remains loyally devoted to Avraham despite the insult, Hashem rewards him with kfitzas haderech — miraculous instant travel reserved only for the righteous. Loyalty and perseverance turn even a “cursed” person into a tzaddik. Second, the same dynamic of “investing in the child who needs it most” repeats with Yaakov and Yosef: Yaakov favors Yosef not out of nepotism, but because he sees the unimaginable trials awaiting him in Egypt and knows, “This one is going to need extra love to survive and triumph.”_____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on November 25, 2025, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 3, 2025_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content. _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life. To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Genesis, #ParentalLove, #Resilience, #Family, #Rebecca, #Isaac, #Esau, #Jacob, #Potential, #Growth, #Yetzirah, #EvilInclination, #Choices, #Challenges, #Yosef, #Destiny, #Potential, #JewishHistory, #Mitzrayim, #Trials, #Yitzchak, #Complexity, #Struggle ★ Support this podcast ★
The nature of Yaakov is described as an "ish tam", yet his life's events seem to tell a far different story
A recording made after Shabbos of the past week's Drasha.
Parshas Toldos: When Nations Stir This week's Parsha brings us into the very beginning of a struggle that started before Yaakov and Esav were even born. Rivkah feels something inside her that no one can explain, leading her to cry out in fear, a moment that opens one of the most meaningful revelations in the Torah. From this inner turmoil comes a story that shapes the destiny of our people: twins drawn to opposite worlds, blessings that determine the future, and a mother who sees the truth long before anyone else. With the Radak's clarity and the Lubavitcher Rebbe's deeper insight, we explore how Rivkah's fear became the first sign of a divine plan already unfolding. It's a Parsha about confusion that becomes clarity, struggle that reveals purpose, and the quiet beginning of a destiny still alive within us.
Today, we discuss the fascinating science of a compass which always points North, and we show how each of us has an inner moral compass, always pointing to holiness and connection with G-d.My book on Chanukah -- DOVE TALES (VAYISHALACH ES HAYONAH) -- is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7BzCpaBSubscribe and hit the bell to see new videos!!!#Rabbi #LearnTorah #TorahStudy #Judaism #Jewish #Torah #Chumash #Parasha #Parsha #Parashat #Gemara #Mussar #Tefilla #Prayer
Two brothers step onto the world's stage and show us two kinds of power. Esau strides forward with muscle and heat, living for the rush of now. Jacob moves quieter but surer, holding fast to covenant and truth. When Isaac mutters, “the voice is Jacob's, but the hands are Esau's,” he leaves us a compass for every age: power that grabs close versus power that travels far. We follow that thread from the birthright and the blessing straight into daily life, where anxiety, headlines, and deadlines test our center.We explore how classic commentators reframe “the voice of Jacob” as more than tone or manners. It's the practice of prayer itself—speech that bridges distances and changes the one who prays. The Midrash argues that when we learn and pray aloud, adversaries lose their edge. That's not magical thinking; it's a way of ordering our world so courage beats panic and purpose outlasts pressure. We also name the modern Edoms that spark fear and ask how a spiritual tool can meet a public storm. The answer returns us to the voice: refine it, use it, and let it do the work hands can't.Then we get practical. Shacharis sets perspective. Maariv settles the night. Mincha—the hardest one to focus on—becomes the secret weapon. The Torah calls Isaac's afternoon prayer “sicha,” conversation, and that word unlocks a daily habit: pause at peak chaos and tell God exactly what's on your plate. We walk through when to insert your own words, how to think specifics inside the blessings, and how a short, honest pour-out can turn stress into strength. If you've struggled to care about Mincha, this simple shift may change your afternoons—and your week.If this resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review with one line on what you'll try at your next Mincha. Your voice might be the nudge someone else needs.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com
וַיִּגְדְּלוּ הַנְּעָרִים וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד אִישׁ שָׂדֶה וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם יֹשֵׁב אֹהָלִים׃ When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob became a mild man, raising livestock. https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.25.27
Shiur given by Rabbi Heshy Friedman on Parsha. Shiur given in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey NY.
Shiur given by Rabbi Ben Zion Bamberger on Parsha.
This episode discusses what we can learn from how Esav performed Kibud Av Vi'Aim.
This episode introduces the discussion of what is included in the prohibition of Sheker, and what is a lie.
Shiur given by Rabbi Bezalel Rudinsky on Parshas Toldos. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Alef Kislev - Rosh Chodesh Kislev (23:06)
Parshas Toldos- what scares you
Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita
Rabbi Sklare is a Rosh Kollel in Baltimore
Shiur given by Rabbi Reuven Eidlitz, Menahel, Yeshiva Eitz Chaim, as a guest speaker at night Seder on Thursday night. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
What's the Worth of Paradise If It's Not on Social Media? When I Begin to "Own" the Compliment, I'm Stealing from G-dThis text-based class is the fourth class in a series on the Chassidic discourse (Maamar) "Vayehu Chayei Sarah," said by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah, 25 Cheshvan, 5712, November 24, 1951, and was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, 29 Cheshvan, 5786, November 20, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This class sums up the structure of the Maamar and continues to explore the deeper meaning behind Chava eating from the Tree of Knowledge and the snake having "intimacy" with Chava. We explore the meaning of true Bitul, in which surrender is not hijacked by the ego, and how wanting to be remembered is a subtle form of idolotry, created by the trauma of separateness. View Source Sheets: https://portal.theyeshiva.net/api/source-sheets/9812
Parshas Toldos
A collection of short Divrei Torah on the weekly Parsha for your Shabbos table.
Chof-Tes Cheshvan - Erev Rosh Chodesh (24:23)
In this week's Parsha Rabbi Kohn looks at the story of Jacob stealing the blessings from Esav. How he listened to the plan thought of by his mother Rivka to "deceive" Yitzchak. What was Rivka thinking? What was her true intent? What is the message for us? He also gives over a powerful lesson on being careful with the feelings of others even when you are in the "right". Subscribe to The Practical Parsha Podcast. For questions or comments please email RabbiShlomoKohn@gmail.com. To listen to Rabbi Kohn's other podcast use this link- the-pirkei-avos-podcast.castos.com/ If you would like to support this podcast please use this secure link to donate: SUPPORT THE PODCAST Chapters (00:00:00) - Parshas Parshas(00:02:01) - The Parasha(00:06:23) - The Characteristics of Yaakov and Esav(00:10:38) - Stealing the Brachos from Esav(00:15:45) - Parsha 3, The Deception of Esav(00:18:33) - Parsha 5: Because Yaakov Stole the Blessings
Explore Parshas Toldos weekly Torah portion through Rav Pinkus's profound insights on character development, personal growth, and spiritual transformation for Torah learners.Why does the Torah define Esav by idleness rather than his eventual wickedness? Rav Pinkus in the Tiferes Shimshon reveals a startling answer: your deepest character isn't formed during mandatory obligations—it's forged in your free time. What you do with those unguarded 10 minutes between obligations isn't merely revealing who you are; it's actually creating who you're becoming.The episode contrasts Esav (ish sadeh—a man of the field, wasting time) with Yaakov (yoshev ohalim—dwelling in tents of learning). Through Torah commentary from multiple sources, including insights from Rav Kamenetsky, this shiur explores how two yeshiva students with identical abilities and identical sedarim developed completely different spiritual trajectories. The difference? Those 10-minute gaps between classes—where one pursued kedusha while the other chose idleness.Perfect for Orthodox Jews, Torah learners, and anyone balancing professional life with spiritual aspirations, this weekly Torah podcast offers practical wisdom for daily living. Your free time isn't insignificant—it's foundational. These episodes reveal how understanding your choices in unguarded moments transforms your entire trajectory, showing why what you do when no one's watching is what ultimately defines your destiny.
The special qualities of Yitzchak are inherited by every Jew, granting them the ability to be unintimidated by the world and to successfully integrate transcendent spirituality into time and space. This explains the deeper significance of Yitzchak going to Gan Eden before his wedding, demonstrating the necessity of spiritual integration through self-nullification. The custom for a groom to receive Rabbinic ordination before marriage reveals how the eternal foundation of a home must be based on absolute Torah law. The necessity of Yaakov taking the blessings through cunning. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Toldos in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 1. Happy Birthday for:Feiga Esther bas RivkahChaya Mushka bas Feiga Esther In honor of the yahrzeit of:Chaya Feiga bas Yitzchak Yaakov HaLevidedicated by her sister
Apt Inspiration on the Parsha given by Rabbi Menachem Apter. Shiur given in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey NY.
When You Grasp the Dynamics of Your Two Souls, You Liberate Yourself from ShameThis class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Tuesday, 27 Cheshvan, 5786, November 18, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.View Source Sheets: https://portal.theyeshiva.net/api/source-sheets/9813
In Complete Surrender We Experience Bliss; But It Is Not Our OwnThis class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Monday, 26 Cheshvan, 5786, November 17, 2025, Parshas Toldos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.View Source Sheets: https://portal.theyeshiva.net/api/source-sheets/9811
In this week's episode Rabbi Kohn discusses a lesson from this week's Parsha on blame. He talks how we learn from Rebecca not to let ourselves blame other for our failures in life. He also discusses a lesson from the Parsha on the essense of prayer. Subscribe to The Practical Parsha Podcast. For questions or comments please email RabbiShlomoKohn@gmail.com. To listen to Rabbi Kohn's other podcast use this link- the-pirkei-avos-podcast.castos.com/ If you would like to support this podcast please use this secure link to donate: SUPPORT THE PODCAST Chapters (00:00:00) - The Practical Parasha Podcast(00:00:28) - The Parsha(00:03:52) - The lineage of Rivkah in the Parsha(00:11:59) - Why Hashem Made The Matriarchs Barren
In Parshas Toldos we meet twin boys that are polar opposites: Esau, beloved by his father Isaac, is a man of the fields; while Jacob is loved by his mother Rebecca and prefers to dwell in the tents of scholarship. These two children will spawn nations and ideals that diverged from each other even before […]
Shiur given by Rabbi Benzion Brodie on Rabbi Brodie Mussar. Shiur recorded in Yeshivas Ohr Reuven, Monsey, NY.
Insights from the Torah Temimah on Parshas Toldos