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New Toldot Essays Reexamine Rivka’s Plan, Classical Commentaries, and the Call for Hishtadlut

New weekly readings of Toldot present ethical debates over deception, urging purposeful effort as the lived lesson.

Overview

  • Torah Musings highlights Onkelos’s practice of rendering several Hebrew terms for prayer with one Aramaic root, underscoring pragmatic translation over fine distinctions.
  • R. Hirsch, as presented, portrays Yitzchak as recognizing Esav’s nature and attempting to channel his strengths toward constructive service.
  • Ibn Ezra is cited for allowing contextual untruths by great figures, a framing used to discuss Yaakov’s statement to Yitzchak.
  • Ha’amek Davar reads Rivka’s instruction to Yaakov as a two-stage plan, first to escape Esav’s flash of rage and then to outlast lingering resentment.
  • Israel National News emphasizes hishtadlut as the parsha’s takeaway, using a reported Yehudit Berl letter to President Truman about Friday broadcasts to illustrate practical initiative.