Wednesday, Kislev 13, 5779 / November 21, 2018
B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 13, 5779 / November 21, 2018
The Torah reading for this Shabbat is Parshat Vayishlach.
After spending 20 years with his father-in-law, Lavan, Yaakov and his family leave to go back to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah. On the way, he is told that his brother Esau, who still hates him for taking his father's blessings, is coming with four hundred men to kill him.
Yaakovprayed to G-d for help, "Save me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau for I fear him that he may come and smite me, the mothers and the children". At the same time, Yaakov sends his brothers gifts to convince him to make peace. He also, as a last resort, prepares for war with his brother.
The three daily prayers were established by our patriarchs: Abraham, the morning prayer; Yitzchak, the afternoon prayer; and Yaakov, the evening prayer.
Q. Why is Yaakov associated with the evening prayer?
A. Evening is a time of darkness, so too, Yaakov’s life was full of trials and tribulations. First, he has to flee his brother who wants to kill him. Then, for twenty years, he suffers from his father-in-law. When he finally returns home, he again encounters Esau who wants to kill him and his family. Then, his daughter Dina is forcibly taken away by Shchem. Later, the Torah tells us how the brothers sell Joseph into slavery. Yaakov’s life story was full of misery and darkness. The evening service, through which we connect to G-d and pray at the time of darkness symbolizes the prayer of Yaakov.
Our sages explain the value of the daily prayers: A king had an only child whom he loved dearly. Each day, he would come to his father for his daily allowance. Even when the prince grew older and lived on his own he visited his father every day to receive his daily allowance.
One day, the son said to his father, "Why should I have to bother you each day? Wouldn't it be easier if you gave me a month's allowance at one time?"
The father agreed and as a result, the son began coming once a month. Eventually, the son asked his father to give him the full allowance for the entire year. When the year was up, his father said, "From now on, I will go back to giving you your needs daily."
When the son protested, the father explained. "You should know that there is no greater pleasure for me than to see you and talk to you. When you needed me every day, you came to me each day; but as soon as I gave you your needs once a month or once a year, you completely forgot about me until the next time you required something. It is better for both of us if you come every day!
The same is with our prayers. Praying three times daily places us in G-d’s presence daily.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Thursday, Kislev 7, 5779 / November 14, 2018
B"H
Thursday, Kislev 7, 5779 / November 14, 2018
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, the Torah relates the following episode which took place with our forefather Yaakov (Jacob).
On his way to Charan, Yaakov prays that G-d should watch and protect him. Knowing that his uncle, Lavan, is a liar and cheater, he is scared of the unknown.
G-d appears to him in a dream and says, “I am the G-d of Abraham and Isaac, I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be as many as the dust of the earth; and you will spread out to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families of the earth will be blessed by you and your descendants. I am with you and I will guard you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not abandon you until I have carried out what I have spoken to you.”
When Yaakov woke up he made the following vow, “If G-d will be with me and he will guard me on this route in which I am going; and He will give me bread to eat and garments to wear; and I will return in peace to my father’s house; and G-d will be my G-d; This stone which I have placed as a monument will be a house of G-d and I will give tithes (to charity) from everything which You give to me.”
Indeed, on this very place where Yaakov slept that night and placed the monument is where the Holy Temples were built many years later.
Q. Why does Yaakov specify in his prayer, “bread to eat and garments to wear”? Wouldn’t it be enough if he asked for bread and garments, without specifying “to eat” and “to wear?” What else would he do with bread if not to eat; and garments, if not to wear?
A. There is a very profound lesson in this for everyone. Sometimes we tend to forget the purpose of our work. Too many people too many times become so involved in their work and business day and night to the point that instead of eating the bread, the bread eats them! Instead of clothing to wear, the clothing business or the expensive designer clothing, wears them down! Manypeoplebecome so consumed in their business chasing after money and more money even at the expense of family and health.
Until now Yaakov was immersed in the study of Torah. Now that he was on his way to build a home, a family and financial success, Yaakov was worried that he may be completely consumed with his physical welfare at the expense of forgetting the spiritual purpose of it all.
Yaakov prayed that G-d give him, “bread to eat and garments to wear,” that he should be successful in his work and have whatever he needs, but at the same time he should remember that physical success is only a means to a higher goal and spiritual purpose.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Wednesday, Kislev 6, 5779 / November 13, 2018
B"H
Wednesday, Kislev 6, 5779 / November 13, 2018
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, the Torah relates how Yaakov came to the city of Charan, after having his famous dream the night before, with the ladder and the angels going up and down on it.
He stopped at the well where he meets the shepherds with their flock gathered at the well. The well is covered with a huge rock which takes the effort of all the shepherds to roll it off.
Then Yaakov sees his cousin Rachel coming to the well with her father’s flock. Upon seeing her, Yaakov all by himself removes the rock and lets the animals drink. “He then kissed Rachel and he wept loudly.” Yaakov tells her that he is her cousin. Rachel runs to tell her father, Lavan, who brings Yaakov home, where Yaakov becomes a shepherd for his flock.
Lavan has two daughter’s, Leah and Rachel. After staying one month with Lavan, he says to Yaakov, “Should you work for me for free just because you are my relative?” Yaakov answers, “I will work for you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.” Lavan agrees.
After the seven years, Lavan tricked Yaakov and gave him Leah instead. When Yaakov complained, Lavan said, “In our place we don’t give the younger one before the older one. If you agree to work another seven years, I will give you Rachel as a wife too.” Yaakov agreed. Lavan gave him Rachel as a wife and Yaakov worked another seven years after his marriage to Rachel.
In addition Yaakov married Bilha and Zilpa (also daughters of Lavan). At the end of the Parsha, Yaakov returns to his father’s home with his four wives, eleven sons and one daughter. Yaakov’s youngest son, Binyamin, was born once he came back to Israel. Thus, all of Yaakov’s children, except for Binyamin, were born outside of Israel.
Q. How old was Yaakov when he came to Lavan?
A. Yaakov left his parents at the age of 63. He then spent 14 years studying at the Yeshiva of Noach’s great grandson, Eiver. Yaakov was 77 when he came to Lavan. He then worked 7 years before marrying Leah. Thus, Yaakov was 84 when he was married.
Q. How many years did Yaakov stay with Lavan?
A. Twenty years. Then it took Yaakov another two years to get back to Hebron, where his father lived. His mother, Rivkah, had just passed away before Yaakov returned. Yaakov was away 22 years.
Because Yaakov was away 22 years from his parents (the 14 years of Torah study are not counted) and didn’t perform the mitzvah of honoring his parents, his son Yosef (Joseph) ended up in Egypt, away from Yaakov for 22 years.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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