Kislev 2, 5786 / November 21-22, 2025
Parashat Tol’dot
Torah - Genesis 25:19 – 28:9
Haftarah – Malakhi 1:1 – 2:7
Torah - Genesis 25:19 – 28:9
Haftarah – Malakhi 1:1 – 2:7
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On December 1, and for the next following week or two, we'll be learning about Hanukkah.
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE
“May God (Elohim) give you of the dew of heaven, and the fat of the land, and plenty of wheat and wine.” Genesis 27:28 (Isaac blessing Jacob)
Rashi: Why is the name of God that is used here the one that refers to His attribute of justice? To teach that He will treat you with justice. If you deserve it (the blessing), He will give it to you, and if not, He will not give it to you.
Isaac Blessing Jacob - Giuseppe Ribera, 1637
Pirkei Avot 5:10
There are four character types among people:
One who says, "What is mine is mine and what is yours is yours" – this is the common (average) type, though some say that this is the type of Sodom (selfish and uncharitable).
One who says, "What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine" – this is an ignoramus (unstable, anarchical).
One who says, "What is mine is yours and what is yours is yours” – this is a saintly person (chasid – boundlessly charitable).
And one who says, "What is yours is mine, and what is mine is mine" – this is an evil person.
Oznayim Latorah: Wheat, i.e., bread, is one of the necessities of life, but wine is a luxury, which only those who can afford to will use. Isaac in this blessing hints that those who can afford it may drink wine only if there is plenty of wheat (emphasis mine), for both the poor and the rich, and if there are no hungry people in the land. But, if there is not “plenty of wheat” in the land, if there is a shortage of bread, then even those who can afford to may not drink wine; instead, they should use that money to buy bread for the poor.
This idea of foregoing luxuries, even when we can afford them, in order to provide others with necessities, goes against much if not all that our increasingly consumerist, selfish, and libertarian-leaning society teaches us. As is so often the case, Torah can be truly counter-cultural, if not revolutionary in its teachings.
As we read in the haftarah for Yom Kippur:
"No, this is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, And untie the cords of the yoke; To let the oppressed go free; To break off every yoke. It is to share your bread with the hungry, And to take the wretched poor into your home; When you see the naked, to clothe him, And not to ignore your own kin. Then shall your light burst through like the dawn; And your healing spring up quickly." Isaiah 57:6-8
There are significant numbers of hungry people in the land. You can help with donations of food, and/or money, and/or time to a shelter or food bank near you.
Here's my new favorite:
North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry (currently providing 400 bags of groceries to those in need twice a week!):
That's an awfully large number of people in need, whom we can help if we forgo a luxury or two. And you need not fast to do this.
What kind of justice do YOU deserve?
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom, DD (HC)
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B'nai Hayim
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
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