This week's portion, Toldot תּוֹלְדוֹת (Generations), based on Genesis 25:19-28:9, talks about Isaac and his descendants. It recounts the birth of the twins, Jacob and Esau, and the subsequent struggles they faced regarding their inheritance and their position in Adonai's plans. Struggles that didn't seem to have huge consequences at the time, but generated issues that haven't been resolved centuries later. The deceit that was formulated by a mother and executed by a brother

A porção da Torá desta semana, Hai Sarah חַיֵּי שָׂרָה (A Vida de Sara), abrange Gênesis 23:1–25:18. Sempre me impressiona que a porção seja nomeada em homenagem à vida de Sara, mas comece com o anúncio de sua morte. A morte sempre traz à tona a pergunta fundamental: "Afinal, qual é o sentido da vida?". É somente através da morte que a vida faz sentido. Também notei um padrão recorrente nesta semana todos os anos: Deus frequentemente chama minha atenção para a morte através d

This week’s Torah portion, Hai Sarah חַיֵּי שָׂרָה (The Life of Sarah), covers Genesis 23:1–25:18. I always find it striking that the portion is named for Sarah’s life, yet it opens with the announcement of her death. Death always brings up the ultimate question into our minds: "What is the point of life anyway?" It is only through death that life makes sense. I’ve also noticed a recurring pattern during this week each year: God often draws my attention to death through event