Reading and Studying the Torah: Jews and Christians

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Chayei Sarah. The Life of Sarah.

Sarah lived 127 years. When she died Abraham purchased a burial spot for her.

17And so the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, facing Mamre, was established (as Abraham's possession). [This included] the field and the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within its entire border around.

When Abraham was old he had his servant go find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant found Rebecca, the daughter of Bethuel of Nahor, a relative. She gave him a drink and watered the camels as well. They showed hospitality to the servant and eventually Rebecca went with him back to Isaac who took her to be his wife and he was comforted after the death of his mother Sarah.

1And Abraham took another wife and her name was Keturah.

She bore Abraham children named in the text.

Abraham died at 175 years old.

Ishmael had twelve sons, princes to their nations.

He died at 137.

Here are the portions again for this new page. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/other...ll-Parshas.htm

This week's portion is Toldot, meaning Generations. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/defau...ish/Toldot.htm

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Toldot (Generations). Isaac was a son of Abraham. He married Rebecca at age 40. Two nations were in her womb, and the older would serve the younger. Esau would serve Jacob. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for some red pottage.

God makes a covenant with Isaac, like the covenant He made with Abraham. Isaac dwells in Gerar. He passes Rebecca off as his sister, so that he does not die. Abimelech protects them. Isaac does very well with crops, etc... and Abimelech asks him to leave. They dig three wells, and only the third is not contended over. God blesses Isaac. Abimelech comes to Isaac and they make a covenant. Isaac's servants find water again.

Isaac is old and calls Esau to bless him if he will but hunt game and bring it to him. Rebecca has Jacob get in Esau's place before he comes back and Isaac blesses Jacob instead. Then he blesses Esau.

Isaac calls Jacob and tells him to go find a wife from among relatives. Esau adds a daughter of Ishmael among his wives.

The next portion is Vayetze. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/defau...sh/Vayetze.htm

[JacobMartinMertens]

Vayetze, "and he left". It refers to Jacob leaving Beer sheba and going to Haran. It is the first word in the Torah portion.

Jacob takes some stones and lays them at his head and lays down to sleep.

12And he dreamed, and behold! a ladder set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and behold, angels of God were ascending and descending upon it.

God promises to give the land to Jacob and his seed.

16And Jacob awakened from his sleep, and he said, "Indeed, the Lord is in this place, and I did not know [it]."

17And he was frightened, and he said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."

Jacob sets up a monument and names the place Beth El.

1Now Jacob lifted his feet and went to the land of the people of the East.

Jacob finds Laban the son of Nahor. He meets Rachel watering the sheep. Laban's other daughter's name is Leah.

Jacob works seven years for Rachel. But Laban gives him Leah and Jacob has to work another seven for Rachel as well.

Leah bears Reuben. Simeon. Levi. Judah. Bilhah Rachel's maidservant bears Jacob Dan. Naftali as well. Leah's maidservant Zilpah bears Gad. Asher. Leah bore Jacob Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter Dinah. Rachel bears Joseph.

Laban tells Jacob to specify his wages.

32I will pass throughout all your flocks today, removing from there every speckled and spotted kid, and every brown lamb among the sheep, and [every] spotted and speckled [one from] among the goats, and this shall be my wages.

43And the man became exceedingly wealthy, and he had prolific animals, and maidservants and manservants, and camels and donkeys.

1And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, "Jacob has taken all that belonged to our father, and from what belonged to our father, he has amassed this entire fortune."

2And Jacob saw Laban's countenance, that he was not disposed toward him as [he had been] yesterday and the day before.

3And the Lord said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your forefathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with you."

Jacob and his family decide to leave.

The next portion is Vayishlach.

[JacobMartinMertens]

Vayishlach. And he sent. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/defau...Vayishlach.htm

"Jacob sent angels ahead of him to his brother Esau,". They brought a positive message about Jacob to Esau, and returned. Esau was coming with four hundred men! So Jacob divided into two camps, in case he was attacked. Jacob prayed to God for protection. Jacob prepared a gift for Esau from the livestock.

Jacob wrestled with an angel of God. The angel asked Jacob for his name. Jacob gave it. Jacob asked the angel for his name. The angel did not give it. Jacob's hip had become dislocated.

33Therefore, the children of Israel may not eat the displaced tendon, which is on the socket of the hip, until this day, for he touched the socket of Jacob's hip, in the hip sinew.

Esau came to Jacob.

4And Esau ran toward him and embraced him, and he fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

1Dinah, the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to look about among the daughters of the land.

2And Shechem the son of Hamor, the Hivvite, the prince of the land, saw her, and he took her, lay with her, and violated her.

3And his soul cleaved to Dinah the daughter of Jacob; he loved the girl and spoke to the girl's heart.

4And Shechem spoke to his father Hamor saying, "Take this girl for me as a wife."

Jacob heard of it but remained silent until his sons came home.

8And Hamor spoke with them, saying, "My son Shechem his soul has a liking for your daughter. Please give her to him for a wife.

9And intermarry with us; you shall give us your daughters, and you shall take our daughters for yourselves.

They decide to get circumcised. Then Simeon and Levi killed every man.

31And they said, "Shall he make our sister like a harlot?"

God named Jacob Israel.

Rachel dies after giving birth to Benjamin.

Isaac dies at one hundred and eighty. Esau and Jacob bury him.

Next, Vayeshev. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/defau...h/Vayeshev.htm