Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha “Toldot,” Genesis 25:19-28:9)…
The Erev Shabbat reading – and thus the title of the parsha – begins with “These are to ‘toldot’, or generations, of Isaac…”
…but it is really the beginning of the story of Yakov, or Jacob, and the father of the nations, Israel:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/SSM-11-21-25-Toldot-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3
Mark’s Sabbath Day midrash is a deeper look at what has been called “enigmatic.” There are certainly elements, of this story in particular, that have been regarded as “problematic,” even, in terms of things done by characters we might be inclined to emulate. For example, why does Rivkah (Rebeccah) decide to deceive her husband? Why does Yiztak/Isaac apparently FALL for it? Or even merit possibly BEING deceived? And, why is Yakov accused to being a ‘supplanter,’ or even “stealing” the birthright?
Some of those questions are certainly easier with the benefit of hindsight.
But there are others that, even in being asked, give us a greater insight into what is REALLY happening than we might otherwise imagine.
“Toldot: What’s With Isaac?
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WT-CooH-11-22-25-Toldot-Whats-with-Isaac-Enigmatic-until-hindsight-podcast-xxx.mp3
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash: