Toldot Themes Conversation

Theme 1—Prayer

Discussion

1. Are there times when you feel like praying? If so, when?
2. How do you feel about the fact that Judaism has 3 prayers daily?

Text

1. Who was praying in our parasha and for what?
2. Should it matter in prayer who is praying and for whom?
3. Did God answer Rebecca’s prayers? Can you think of other prayers in the Torah, some answered and some not?

Quotes

1. “כל המבקש רחמים על חבירו והוא צריך לאותו דבר הוא נענה תחילה” (בבא קמא צב ע”א).
2. “רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, הָעוֹשֶׂה תְּפִלָּתוֹ קֶבַע – אֵין תְּפִלָּתוֹ תַּחֲנוּנִים” (משנה ברכות ד, ד).
3. “וְאָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: גְּדוֹלָה תְּפִלָּה יוֹתֵר מִן הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת” (ברכות לב ע”ב).
4. “‘ולעבדו בכל לבבכם’ – איזו היא עבודה שהיא בלב, הוי אומר זו תפילה” (תענית ע”ב).
5. “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays” (Soren Kierkegaard).

Theme 2—Favorite Foods

Discussion

1. What are your favorite foods? Can you name your parents’ favorite foods?
2. To what extent, if ever, have you helped prepare any of your parents’ favorite foods?

Text

1. From the parasha, what food did Esav like and what food did Isaac like?
2. What was Esav willing to do for the food he wanted? What do you think of his decision?
3. Explain the connection between food and the relationship between Esav and Isaac. What do you think of that connection?

Quotes

1. “שאין שמחה אלא בבשר ואין שמחה אלא ביין” (רמב”ם הלכות שביתת יום טוב ו, יח).
2. “אָכ֣וֹל וְשָׁת֔וֹ כִּ֥י מָחָ֖ר נָמֽוּת” (ישעיהו כב, יג).
3. “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are” (Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin).
4. “My favorite animal is steak” (Fran Lebowitz).
5. “One should eat to live, not live to eat” (Moliere).

Theme 3—Instant Gratification

Discussion

1. What is the difference in the time it took your parents to send letters and pictures when they were your age, and now?
2. What are the pros and cons of living in a generation that so many things are done in an instant?
3. Were you ever “hangry”? If so, when and why?

Text

1. What did Esav want from Jacob and what did Jacob ask for in return?
2. Do you think the deal between Esav and Jacob was fair? Why or why not?

Quotes

1. “The worst temptation is instant gratification”
   (Jon Luvelli).
2. “Patience is a virtue” (William Langland).
3. “Don’t sacrifice your future dreams at the altar of instant gratification” (Ashley Borden). 
4. “Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit” (Moliere).
5. “Patience is the companion of wisdom” (Saint Augustine).

Theme 4—Territorial Conflicts

Discussion

1. Are there spaces or things in your home about which you and your siblings fight?
2. What do you think is the source of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians?
3. Can you think of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

Text

1. What was the conflict between Isaac and the people of Gerar?
2. How did Isaac deal with this conflict? What do you think of Isaac’s approach?

Quotes

1. “Talk is over-rated as a means of settling disputes” (Tom Cruise).
2. “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph” (Thomas Paine).
3. “The greatest conflicts are not between two people but between one person and himself” (Garth Brooks).
4. “I’ve always believed that a lot of the troubles in the world would disappear if we were talking to each other instead of about each other” (Ronald Reagan).
5. “הִלֵּל אוֹמֵר, הֱוֵי מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, אוֹהֵב שָׁלוֹם וְרוֹדֵף שָׁלוֹם, אוֹהֵב אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת וּמְקָרְבָן לַתּוֹרָה” (אבות א, יב).

Theme 5—Do the Ends Justify the Means?

Discussion

1. Do you think it is permissible to cheat on a test if failing would mean not receiving a high school diploma or not getting into college? Why or why not?
2. Do you think it is okay to blow up an entire village if many terrorists live there? Why or why not?
3. If you gave different answers to each of these dilemmas explain the difference.

Text

1. What were the “ends” and what were the “means” in the story of Jacob and the blessing?
2. Do you think the ends justified the means in the story of Jacob and the blessing? Why or why not?

Quotes

1. “מצווה הבאה בעבירה אינה מצווה” (רמב”ם פירוש למשנה ג, א).
2. “The end justifies the means. Sometimes you have to do the wrong thing to get the right result” (Sebastian Fitzek).
3. “And don’t tell me the end justifies the means because it doesn’t. We never reach the end. All we ever get is means. That’s what we live with” (Nick Harkaway).
4. “If the end does not justify the means—what can?” (Edward Abbey).
5. “The end may justify the means as long as there is something that justifies the end” (Leon Trotsky).