Parshat Toldot: Dualism and the Sons
In tribute to Moreinu Harav Yaakov Zvi ben David Arieh Sacks ztl I'm not one to blow my own trumpet but every now and again, a date comes along and makes me stop, think and consider its importance in my life. Today (16 th November) was such a date because, until this nightfall, the 29th Cheshvan constituted the fortieth anniversary of the day that I became a man, on 8th November 1980. The first day that I was eligible to be given my very first Aliyah and my opportunity to make up a minyan. Forty years ago, yours truly became a 'Bar mitzvah Boy' on Shabbat 29th Cheshvan (which is quite wonderful, because I was born on a Friday night.) Two days earlier, I had been blessed to recite the first part of my Bar mitzvah Parsha of Toldot at the Kotel, the Western Wall. It still ranks as one of the most memorable days in my life. If anything, I appreciate it more now, than on that sunny November morning. As my ceremony was two days early (due to it having to take pla