Our sages teach that much of the book of Genesis is symbolic of the future, as expressed in the teaching, 'that which the fathers experienced is a sign for their children.'
This is especially true regarding the patriarch Yaakov, whose life and family are highlighted in the Torah portions of these weeks.
If we are able to correctly interpret the events of this righteous man's life, we can gain insight to understand the arc of Israel's history...and how to prepare for the challenges of the future.
This week's Jerusalem Lights podcast looks closely at Yaakov's life and the challenges he faced. Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman transpose these lessons to our current reality in the war against Hamas terror, and explore the intersection of these current Torah readings with the upcoming Festival of Hanukkah and its message of spiritual victory in the name of the G-d of Israel.