In this week's Parsha (Torah portion), Yaakov (Jacob) ends up at the house of his uncle Lavan, partially in order to escape his brother's wrath and partially to find a wife. Lavan greets him with open arms at first--but after a month, puts him to work: “Just because yo...

There are three main stories in Parshat Toldot, amidst other details. The first main story is the twins’ birth and how their mother, Rivka (Rebecca), finds out that the younger son will succeed their older child.  Then years later, Esav sells his birthright for bread a...