A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Published: Tue, 12/02/25

Updated: Tue, 12/02/25

"Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord...you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted."

Genesis 32:9-12

Don't see this email too well? view it on the web!

You signed up for this newsletter for information from Root Source.
If you would like to unsubscribe, click here.

Hi friend,

This coming Shabbat's Torah portion, read on Saturday, December 6th, is Parashat Vayishlach. In this week’s reading, Vayishlach, Jacob returns to Canaan, but is fearful of his brother Esau. They meet and make peace. Jacob wrestles with an angel, and his name is changed to Israel. Jacob’s daughter Dinah is abducted by the prince of Shechem. Shimon and Levi destroy the city of Shechem and liberate Dinah. Rachel dies while giving birth to Jacob’s twelfth son, Benjamin. Isaac dies.

Root Source is launching a new kind of Bible, and we invite you to join our online event revealing a fresh, eye-opening way to connect the Old and New Testaments. Check it below.

Check out this insightful update—Bringing Jews and Christians Together with Gidon Ariel and Pastor Jan-Aage! Check below!

Join us in exploring the Weekly Bible Chapter: Prophecy Yields to Process, and Awe to Administration with Rabbi Avraham Norin, and let’s learn and reflect together!

Please enjoy this teaching of our beloved Root Source teacher, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz of blessed memory, about this week's Torah portion, Vayishlah, and share your thoughts with us!

Last week, our popular Root Source teacher Rabbi Gedalia Meyer talked about Vayeitzei. Watch it below.

Check below to hear what Gidon Ariel and Abigail have to share.

We sign off with a nice comment and a beautiful photo of Dead Sea, Israel .

Shalom,

Gidon Ariel and Bob O’Dell
Root Source Founders

Parashat Vayishlach

Jacob was on his way home to his father Isaac after twenty years of absence, having fled Canaan to escape his brother Esau’s wrath. As a peaceful overture, Jacob now sent ahead messengers to Esau with a reconciliatory message. The messengers returned with an ominous report: Esau is coming to “greet” Jacob with a troop of 400 men. Jacob was distressed. He divided his family and belongings into two groups—to allow one group to flee while the other was engaged in battle. He then prayed, calling upon G‑d‘s promise to protect him.

What If You Could Read the Bible Again for the First Time?

Join us on December 14 as we unveil the Echoes Bible, a unique approach that pairs the books of Paul with their Old Testament counterparts. Discover the echoes between the Testaments and experience Scripture with fresh insight during this free livestream event.

More details here

Bringing Jews and Christians Together with Gidon Ariel and Pastor Jan-Aage

Gidon Ariel, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Root Source in Hebron, Israel, is today’s guest on Insight. He shares how his organization promotes respectful relationships between pro-Israel Christians and Jews through programs that bring authentic Israeli teachers together with curious Christian learners. Pastor Jan-Aage reflects on the powerful impact of Gidon’s insights.

Watch here

Weekly Bible Chapter:

Prophecy Yields to Process, and Awe to Administration

The law is a funny thing. Not quite an art, and certainly not a science, it can glimmer with the sheen of high spectacle or be stupefying in its banality. It is the thumb of the powerful and the last recourse of the powerless. Both esoteric and the protector and prosecutor of every last person, it manages to be both too much and not enough.

Parashat Vayishlah: The Blurred Line Between Truth and Falsehood

In vast tapestry of biblical narratives, Jacob stands as a complex embodiment of truth, underscored by the prophetic exhortation, “Give truth to Jacob” (Mic. 7:20). Yet, this patriarchal figure often acts with a certain cunning that belies his association with an absolute ideal of truthfulness.

Vayeitzei:
Rabbi Gedalia Meyer's Weekly Torah Study

When Yaakov discovered that HaShem was “present in this place” he expressed the profound insight that “the universe is not the place of G-d, but G-d is the place of the universe.”

Watch the video

Conversations:

Gidon and Abigail talk Israeli politics;-)

- November 26, 2025

Gidon and Abigail explored the history and role of the World Zionist Congress, the elected body guiding the World Zionist Organization since its founding by Theodor Herzl in response to rising anti-Semitism.

Watch here!

Comments

We get so many comments!
Here is one from Cindy Offenstein on Read the Bible Again for the First Time:

"I so look forward to this series! I remember you talking about such a project a couple years ago. I recently remembered it and wondered about how it was going. I am excited to check it out! Thank you!"

Dead Sea, Israel

Enjoy this photo of the Dead Sea, Israel by Keith Chan.

Blessings and Shalom,
Bob and Gidon

https://root-source.com

Root Source LTD
Ahavat HaAretz #1
Maale Hever DN Har Hevron 90420
ISRAEL

Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options