Monday, Kislev 11, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 5, 2022

B"H

Monday, Kislev 11, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 5, 2022

  

Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayishlach.  In the Parsha the Torah tells us about the many tribulations that Yaakov encountered on the way back to his parents, Yitzchak, and Rivkah. 

 

Yaakov hears that his brother, Esau, who for the past 34 years wants to kill him, is coming toward him with 400 men. The Torah tells us that, "Yaakov was greatly afraid and distressed."  Yaakov sends gifts to appease Esau so that he would forgive him for taking away the blessings, while at the same time preparing for battle and praying for G-d's help.

 

In this Parsha the Torah describes a battle between Yaakov and "a man," which our sages say was Esau's guardian angel. Yaakov is victorious.  G-d tells Yaakov, "Your name shall not be called any more Yaakov (Jacob) but Israel shall be your name."

 

The origin of the name Children of Israel is in this Parsha when G-d changed Yaakov’s name to Israel.

 

Q. Yaakov/Israel is the only one of our forefathers who had two names. At times, the Torah calls him Yaakov and at times he is called, Israel. What is the reason for these two names?

 

A.  His name Yaakov was given to him at birth because he was holding onto the heel of his brother Esau. Yaakov means "heel" and represents a lower level.  "Israel" means leadership, which represents courage and strength. 

 

The two names represent the different stages of the Jewish people. Israel represents the times of Jewish greatness and glory.  Yaakov relates to the times of suffering and exile.

 

G-d answered Yaakov’s prayers to save him from Esau by sending angels to put fear into Esau and his men. When Yaakov and Esau meet, Esau kisses Yaakov, although he refuses Yaakov’s gifts.  Yaakov insists, saying, "Take my gift because G-d had been gracious with me, and because I have enough."

 

A Chasid once came to Rabbi Meir of Premishlan and complained that someone in town opened the same business as his.  "I am very worried that he will take away my livelihood," the Chasid said.

 

"Did you ever see, when a horse drinks water from a river, he kicks his hoof in the water.  Do you know why?"  The Rebbe asked.   "No," replied the Chasid. 

 

"I will tell you why," said Rabbi Meir.  "When the horse looks in the water and he sees his own reflection, he thinks there is another horse there.  Now he is afraid that the other horse will drink up all the water, so he tries to frighten him away by kicking his hoofs!"

 

"It is the same with you!" continued Rabbi Meir. "You think that if someone else is trying to make a living, it will take away from you.  That is not so. G-d has enough for everyone. Whatever is destined for the other person will not diminish one bit from that which G-d has destined for you!"

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

Friday, Kislev 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 2, 2022

B"H

Friday, Kislev 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 2, 2022

  

In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, we read the story of how Yaakov leaves his parents, who lived in Be’er Sheva, and went to the city of Charan, where his mother’s brother, Lavan, lived. There was a double purpose for this journey; to escape his brother, Esau, who wants to kill him and also to find a wife from among Lavan’s daughters.

 

Q.How old was Yaakov when he came to his father-in-law, Lavan?

 

A. Yaakov was seventy seven when he came to Lavan.

 

After working seven years for Rachel, Lavan fooled him and gave him Leah instead. When Yaakov complained, he told him that for another seven years of work, he will give him Rachel too. In truth, Yaakov worked all fourteen years for Rachel. The first seven years he thought he was working for Rachel, but was fooled and given Leah instead. The second seven years he really worked for Rachel.

 

Q.Yaakov was eighty four when he married Leah. How much later did he marry Rachel?

 

A.The first seven years, Yaakov worked before Lavan gave him his daughter Leah. But the second seven years he worked off after marrying Rachel. A week after his wedding to Leah he married Rachel. Yaakov was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.

 

Q.How many years did Yaakov stay with his father-in-law, Lavan?

 

A.Twenty years. During this time, eleven of his sons and his daughter, Dina, were born. Yaakov was 97 when he left Lavan; he was 99 when he rejoined his father, Yitzchak, who was 159. His mother Rivkah had already passed away.

 

Q.How old were his children when he left Lavan’s home?

 

A.His oldest son, Reuven, was over Bar Mitzvah and his youngest at that time, Joseph, was 6.

 

Q.  When and where was Yaakov’s twelfth son, Binyamin (Benjamin), born?

 

A.  Binyamin was born two years after Yaakov left his father-in-law. He was born when Yaakon arrived back in the Land of Canaan (Israel). Yaakov was over 100 when Binyamin was born.

 

Q. Did Yaakov leave on good terms with his father-in-law?

 

A.No. Yaakov had to leave with his family and possessions while Lavan was away from home. Yaakov was too valuable to be let go, as G-d blessed Lavan with great wealth as a result of Yaakov. When Lavan found out, he chased after them and wanted to harm them. G-d appeared to him in a dream and warned him not to harm them.

   SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:02

Thursday, Kislev 7, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 1, 2022

B"H

Thursday, Kislev 7, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 1, 2022

 

This week's Parsha, Vayeitzei, is about Yaakov's journey from the Holy Land to his uncle Lavan where he spent the next twenty years. 

 

On the way he has a dream of a great ladder stretching from earth to heaven and angels going up and down the ladder.  Before leaving the Holy Land, G-d speaks to Yaakov in a dream, promising to give this land, to his many descendants and to protect him until his return.  Yaakov vows that on his safe return he will give a tenth of his possessions to G-d – to charity. 

 

When he comes to Charan he offers to tend Lavan's sheep for seven years so that he can marry his daughter, Rachel.  After seven years, Lavan cheats him and gives him his older daughter, Leah, instead. Lavan tells Yaakov that for another seven years of work, he can marry also Rachel.  Yaakov agrees.

 

The ladder which Yaakov saw extending from earth to heaven had special significance for Yaakov as he was going to establish a family and worldly possessions. It signified that worldly matter (earth) and spiritual matter (heaven) are connected. By using one's assets and personal success to perform G-d's commandments and acts of good deeds one builds the ladder which connects the physical and the spiritual - earth and heaven.

 

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Barditchev would visit local Jewish settlements to teach Torah, help them with their problems and strengthen their Jewish observance. 

 

Arriving once in a town where he was unknown, a local Jewish butcher, seeing a very distinguished looking rabbi, approached him and said, "Rabbi, perhaps you're a qualified shochet (ritual slaughterer)?"

 

"I am," the rabbi replied.

 

"Great! I'll pay you well for your trouble.  Our shochet has taken ill and many customers are waiting for their kosher meat." 

 

“I agree, but first I need a favor," he told the butcher. "I urgently need a loan of 300 rubles for my daughter's wedding.  Can you lend me the sum?  I will repay it in three months."

 

"Three hundred rubles is a lot of money!  How can I lend you such a large sum when I never met you before and I don't even know who you are?"

 

"I don't understand," replied Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.  "You’re afraid to trust me with your money because I'm a complete stranger, but you’re ready to entrust me with the responsibility of providing your community with kosher meat? Is money more important than the observance of G-d’s mitzvot?

 

Lesson: To a Jew, physical matter, and spiritual matter, are inseparable. They complement each other.

 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY