Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Vayeishev 5781 – Can a Parent Have a Favorite Child?

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

In a recent episode of the Crown, Margaret Thatcher mentions that he son is her favorite child. This raises the challenging question of whether parents can or should have favorites. In Parashat Vayeishev, the Torah tells us that Yaakov preferred Yosef, leading to disastrous results. Does this mean we should not have favorites? The Midrash teaches us that the lesson is a bit more complicated than we might have thought.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

Parshat Hashavua for Parshat Toldot 5781

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

In our parashah, Yaakov is faced with the challenge that if he follows his mother’s instructions, he has to lie to his father. What do you do when you cannot tell the truth? In this Kitah lesson, we see how Rashi explains what Yaakov tried to do to solve his problem.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 5, 2021.