Parshat Toldot
Take 2: Leaving Home and Growing Up
The main characters in Bereshit (Genesis) make journeys. God tells Abraham and Sarah to leave their homes and travel to a far away land. Rebecca leaves her family and home to marry Isaac. Now, Jacob must leave his home to run away from his angry brother, Esau, after tricking him out of the Birthright and Blessing.
Leaving home is an important step in growing up. It allows us to discover who we are, to become more independent and responsible. As children, we might experiment with what it feels like to leave home when we go to a sleep over or maybe a summer camp. As we get older we might leave home to go to college or to take a job. Sometimes we leave home and go far away, like Abraham and Sarah, even when we don't really know where we are going to.
While leaving home is exciting, it is also difficult. We might get homesick and miss the comfort and familiarity of the people and places we know. When we return, things might have changed while we were away.
Talk with your family:
Leaving home is an important step in growing up. It allows us to discover who we are, to become more independent and responsible. As children, we might experiment with what it feels like to leave home when we go to a sleep over or maybe a summer camp. As we get older we might leave home to go to college or to take a job. Sometimes we leave home and go far away, like Abraham and Sarah, even when we don't really know where we are going to.
While leaving home is exciting, it is also difficult. We might get homesick and miss the comfort and familiarity of the people and places we know. When we return, things might have changed while we were away.
Talk with your family:
- How does it feel when you are away from home for a long time?
- Parents, share what it was like when you moved out of your parent's home?
- What are some of the things you miss when you are away from home? What are some of the things you look forward to when you go away?
