Torah Portion of the Week

Building Character through the Themes of the Weekly Torah Portion

Torah

Genesis 25:19–28:9

Next Reading:

November 14, 2026

4 Kislev, 5787

Haftarah

Malachi 1:1–2:7

וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן־אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת־יִצְחָק׃

V’e-leh tol’dot Yitz-chak ben–Av-ra-ham Av-ra-ham ho-lid et–Yitz-chak.

And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham begot Isaac.

Genesis 25:19

Toldot means “generations”—a word that has tremendous significance. If you are needing a change in your life, a change in your generations… this is it.

Toldot talks about a man by the name of Abraham and his son Isaac, and how they mirror one another. Many of Isaac’s life events clearly mirror those of his father, just as your children’s life events will clearly mirror yours. You will be able to see how you lived your life just by looking at your children.

Generate Merit

As a parent, it is easy to see yourself in your children, and even in your grandchildren. It might be the color of their eyes, the way they move their mouth, or even the way they run. But did you know that you can pass on more than just physical qualities and characteristics? Your children inherit your spiritual DNA!

What you do in your life is a springboard for what your children do in their lives. Your merit gives your children strength to follow your example. What do you want for your children? Whatever you value, you will protect. Take value in your children and protect them by setting a good example.

Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

(JPS 1917, Proverbs 17:6)

When you make the effort to walk in the moral character, attributes, integrity, and values taught by God, tremendous merit is generated and passed on to your future generations. God has equipped you with a gift to create your future.

“Toldot” is also translated as “offspring”—a life story is being passed on. Let your life story be meritorious for the future so that the generations after you will say about you, “Their life story was a great one.” That becomes the “offspring”—what they will spring off of to move forward in their life.

Outside of the Box

God knows that you’ve worked through different levels of morality to get to the point where you’re at. That point is what your children step on to get to the next level and accomplish what you could not. It doesn’t matter what you’re up against or how impossible it may appear to be. Nothing is impossible for God!

Just look at Abraham and Sarah. According to the physical laws of nature, they couldn’t have had Isaac because they were both old and barren. However, God saw something different, and therefore, “He brought Abraham outside” (Genesis 15:5) when He told him that he would have a son. He brought him outside—in other words, He was saying, “Abraham, I know you thought you would be childless, but break away from what the physical laws of nature are telling you. Think outside of the box.”

Abraham believed God—and now, here you are, reading Toldot, a Torah portion named after the generations of Abraham’s son, Isaac.

Even when you think that you can’t change, or that your situation can’t change, and even when you feel that it’s impossible to make a difference in your generations, don’t resign yourself to inactivity. Some of the smallest choices and actions can have the biggest impact and make the biggest difference. By your effort you can impact and empower your toldot, your generations. The Almighty sees what you cannot; so think outside of the box.

A Glance of Hebrew | Toldot STBM Messer

Pronunciation Guide for Transliterated Hebrew Words

a

[a] as in arm

ai

[ai] as in Thailand

e

[e] as in red

ei

[ei] as in eight

i

[i] as in ski

o

[o] as in score

oi

[oi] as in oil

u

[u] as in rule

ui

[ui] as in gluing

ch/kh

[ch] as in the Scottish loch

g

[g] as in good (not as in giant)

tz

[ts] as in hats

short “eh” or “uh” sound

The Hebrew Scriptures in this text have been derived from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC), and the English translation is based off of the JPS 1917 Tanakh.