Monday, 01 Dec 2008

Written by Rabbi Professor Marc Saperstein

Everyone familiar with the Jewish tradition knows of Jacob the Patriarch, one of the founders of our nation, the father of those whose offspring be-came the twelve tribes. The Jewish people is called by both of his names, Jacob and Israel, as is obvious in our prayer book. “How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel”: these are the words that begin many of our worship services. “O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Eternal”, “Hear, O Israel, the Eternal our God, the Eternal is One”. In the rabbinic tradition, he is a model of piety, studiousness, and godliness. 

The views expressed in this D’var Torah do not necessarily reflect the position of Leo Baeck College.