We are introduced in the parsha to a very interesting concept of owning a Jewish slave. Specifically, we are dealing with one who has stolen and was unable to repay for his robbery. The Beis Din, the Jewish court system, sells the burglar in order to pay the debt and after six years he is freed. However, there is a clause that if the slave wishes to remain with his master he may do so.

In today’s world of inappropriate classifications, we sometimes are confused as to what is really what! As an example, would be what is really royalty and what does it mean? As we look eastward at the UK we will notice that people of truly no majestic quality parading as though they really are. And they usurp millions from the common folk who indeed work very hard as opposed to the king and queen who do nothing and yet are treated with tremendous respect and reverence.

Of course, to discuss packaged eternity is somewhat of an oxymoron, but we will explain. The people enjoyed the Manna in the desert and actually it was an unusual item because it was not organic. As the Sages mention, it was the same ‘food’ that the angels ‘consumed,’ therefore it was not earthly, rather divine.

Certainly, everyone has heard this adage at one point. And, of course, it seems to be a secular saying that people use to promote conversation and sharing of different ideas. However, truly we may assert that this saying is rooted in the words of Nachmonides although in somewhat a different vogue. As we all know, these parshios in the Torah convey important lessons that we must learn and adapt to fortify our faith in Hashem, especially in these difficult times when we are under assault not only in Eretz Yisroel but actually worldwide.

The time had arrived for the long-awaited redemption from our bondage in Egypt. Generation after generation passed down to their children and grandchildren that eventually they would be saved. Pharoah was warned about the impending plagues that would destroy his powerful kingdom and yet he refused to back off and release his captives.

We find ourselves in a quagmire. Deplorably, we were massacred about three months ago and we are fighting an enemy that is bent on our destruction as we well know. The valiant struggles that we are witnessing in Israel to eliminate our foes seem endless and the vitriolic assaults against us are entirely false yet accepted by millions on every continent!

The Talmud teaches us that Yaakov never died. Even though upon his ‘death’ he was embalmed, still the Talmud bases its conclusion upon a verse that clearly states that he did not die. Therefore, it is very puzzling when we read that the days of Yaakov were drawing close to their end and he was about to die.

The two most powerful brothers now collide in this exchange between Yosef and Yehuda. Yehuda senses that the ruler of Egypt is not interested in honoring his commitment to release his brother to head back to their father and he is apparently incensed. Even so, he approaches Yosef in a most fascinating manner and requests to speak into ‘the ears’ of his master, referring to Yosef. He could simply have whispered to Yosef and kept his comments private and not voiced them to the entire court of advisers present at this audience. However, this choice of words is unusual and requires an explanation.

We are in the middle of this wonderful Yom Tov called Chanukah. And we know that we light the Menorah for eight nights to publicize the miracle that took place at that time. The powerful Greek army was destroyed by a ragtag group that were not true soldiers and then we were unable to find pure oil with which to kindle the Menorah.

Yaakov endured many trials and tribulations during his lifetime. He had to escape from Eisav and the twenty years he spent with Lavan were not a pleasant experience. Furthermore, Dinah was ravaged by Shechem and the ensuing violent response of his two sons Shimon and Levi endangered the fledgling nation in its infantile stage of development.