Isaac's Wells

Love for G-d is limited by its own size. When we confront an obstacle greater than our love, we need something stronger to catapult us. Isaac's abnegation of self and strict code of obedience shifted his focus from himself onto G-d. Thus he was able to "u...

Who was Isaac? Even in Toldot, the only Parshah devoted primarily to Isaac’s 180 years, we are hard-pressed to find some clues to his identity and personality.

Each of the three forefathers typified something unique, a particular “brand” that was thereafter permanently imprinted into the Jewish DNA.

In this week’s parshah, Toldot, we read about Isaac’s life after the passing of his father, Abraham. A big emphasis is put on the fact that he dug wells. First, he unearthed the wells that his father had originally dug, but the locals had filled. Then he ...

What does well-digging look like in modern times?

All Jews are well-diggers, even today. Whatever you do for your physical livelihood and your spiritual livelihood, all depends on digging lasting wells...

“G‑dliness is everything” is the path of Abraham. Abraham understood that there is a Truth beyond all truths, an absolute reality, before which no other reality is true. Therefore, he smashed the idols and declared to all people and in all places that the...

Isaac is the second of the patriarchs of the Jewish people. He is most famous for his central role when he was almost offered up as a sacrifice to G‑d.

This week’s Torah reading focuses on our Patriarch Isaac, describing in detail the wells which he dug. Now the Bible does not tell us everything our Patriarchs did. Indeed, Isaac’s 180 years of life are described in a few chapters. Thus when it does tell ...

Isaac again dug the wells of water which they had dug in the days of his father, Abraham, and which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham’s death. . . . Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and they found there a well of living waters. . . . He move...