Parsha

It is clear that Tosafos maintains that only someone who lives in a house must light Chanukah candles.

If Chanukah was simply a commemoration of the miracle of the oil and Menorah, we would be hard pressed to see the connection between the reading from Parshas Nesiim and Chanukah.

Yehuda knew if the moment isn't right or men are unwilling to listen a skilled leader bides his time

This is a recurring theme in this week’s parsha, in which there are many mistakes made based on perception.

"A person should sell even the beams of his own house in order to buy shoes."

If Hashem is watching tzaddikim, why couldn’t He just save Yosef from all the suffering he was about to endure?

Jacob was well aware that the brothers hated Joseph, yet he sent him to them anyway.

But how could there have been any validity to Yosef’s allegations?

Using Joseph's story to understand what non-prophetic communication with God could look like today

The dreams revealed their differences: The butler was active; the baker completely passive.

Yehudah, more suited to the role, became leader and not Yosef- the very public candidate for the job

Yosef is the perfect leader for a people entering exile because he understands their basic needs

If a man owns a successful small business, he might do a million dollars a year in sales. But that is the gross revenue, not the amount he takes home.

He knew that the way to potentially mollify Esau was to insist that he accept his gift, which he finally did.

If one converts for the sole purpose of marrying a Jew the conversion is invalid.

Yaacov returning to Yithak reconnects him with his past, reconnecting him to the legacy of Avraham.

It is difficult to remain faithful in galut, the ultimate Rorschach test for all Jewish generations

Benno Yaakov, the German Jewish commentator, posits Yaakov's limping caused Eisav's change of heart.

Rabbi Fohrman addresses "What is in a name?"

Yaakov encountering Esav is the classic source in dealing with anti-Semites littering our history

By the time Yaakov becomes Yisrael, however, his worldview has changed dramatically.

A person who truly feels that everything is a blessing from G-d will count his blessings and realize just how much he has.

Yaacov returns the stolen blessing of material wealth and physical might to Esav

The Jew, from the perspective of the name Yaakov, is dependent on the non-Jewish world. This can be seen today in the relationship between the State of Israel and the United States

Rashi in Shabbos 9b writes that the reason why the tefillah of Ma’ariv is a reshus is because it was instituted corresponding to the burning of the eimurim from the korbanos – which was performed at night.

It almost sounds as if Hashem is saying, “I have to keep Yaakov from getting too comfortable; otherwise he will forget Me. I can’t promise him sustenance because then he won’t need Me. He won’t write. He won’t call. He won’t love Me anymore.”

Jacob cries, overcome by the knowledge that his great love for Rachel will end in unbearable pain.

There's a perfect mirror between Jacob running away from Esav to when he reunites with his brother.

Yitzhak called you Esav and you answered him, then he called you Yaakov and you also answered him!”

Yitzchak thought the Jewish people needed dual leadership: Eisav the physical; Yaakov the spiritual