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.