Rashi says that in trying to impress and deceive his father Isaac, Esau would ask his father, "How does one tithe the salt and the straw?&rdquo; Yet this seems strange. For this question implies not extra piety but absolute ignorance! For it is a clear law that these items are exempt of all tithing obligations.
The class goes on to explore this Rashi on two levels&mdash;the literal and the mystical. In the first we discover the intelligence and depth of Eisav&rsquo;s question, considering the unique properties of salt and straw. Then we go on to explain this question from a deeper perspective, analyzing the majesty and tragedy of Eisav, whose struggles were unique and who attracted the deep love and empathy of his father. The prophet says that G-d loathes Eisav. But the Kabbalists show us how easy it is to miss the real message of the verse.
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">The class aims at liberating us from the erroneous notion that struggling with evil is evil. It is the other way around: Our struggle with evil is where our unique spiritual potential and greatness lay.&nbsp;
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: HE;">This class is based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. 20 and Vol. 25 Parshas Toldos.

The Struggle Against Evil is Not Evil

Class Parshas Toldos

The Majesty and Tragedy of Eisav

On Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, a father and son, Rabbi Yaakov and Netanel Litman, were gunned down by Arab terrorists near Hebron, just a few days before the father would marry off his daughter.&nbsp;On Friday&nbsp;night, a coordinated attack by ISIS in Paris cut down the lives of 129 people, and wounded another 350 innocents. This lecture, by Rabbi YY Jacobson, was presented the following day, at a national convention of Jewish women (the midwinter convention of Neshei Chabad) in Toronto, on Motzaei Shabbos Toldos, 2 Kislev 5776, Nov. 14, 2015.
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Carnage in Paris and Israel

Confronting Terror with Unwavering Resolve

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