What is the most important law of physics? Which is major and which is minor? How about Jewish holidays, are some more important than others?

In this week’s parasha, Vayishlach, our patriarch Yaakov, has a reunion with his brother Esau. His actions bring lessons on how adhering steadfastly to our Torah is our only safeguard against the modern-day Esaus of the world.

In this week’s Torah portion, we see the mantle of responsibility for building the nation of Israel passing from Avraham and Sarah to Yitzchak and Rivka. In Toldot, they emerge truly as patriarch and matriarch, Yitzchak Avinu and Rivka Imeinu.

Chayei Sara, like every parsha of the Torah, contains timely messages applicable to our generation even though it relates events in the lives of our patriarchs and matriarchs that happened over 3,000 years ago.

This week’s parsha opens with Avraham pleading with Hashem not to depart as he tends to the needs of three approaching strangers. How could taking care of strangers take Avraham away from the Divine Presence?