B"H
Friday, Kislev 13, 5778 / December 1, 2017
This Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayishlach. In this Parsha the Torah relates the story of how Yaakov (Jacob) returns, together with his family back to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
On the way home, Yaakov hears that his brother Eisav (Esau), who is still angry at Yaakov for getting his father’s blessings, is coming toward him to kill him.
Yaakov sends angels as messengers to tell Esau that he wants peace. But when they return, they tell Yaakov that Eisav is not ready for peace. Instead, Eisav is coming with 400 men to fight him.
Upon hearing this, Yaakov became frightened. He then forms a plan to counter Eisav's threat. Yaakov prays to G-d to save him and his family. He also sends gifts to his brother in the hope of appeasing him. In case that doesn’t work, he also prepares for war.
The Torah tells us how, even before meeting Eisav, Yaakov battled with Eisav’s guardian angel and won. Now, Yaakov felt more assured that he will be safe with Eisav too. When they finally meet, Yaakov bows seven times to Eisav. Yaakov’s wives and sons also bow to Eisav. When Eisav sees thishe hugs and kisses Yaakov. Yaakov and family continue travelling to his parents.
On the way he had to contend with more troubling situations. In the city of Shchem, his only daughter, Dina, was forcefully violated by the prince of the land. Two of Dina’s brothers were so angered that, without Yaakov’s knowledge, they killed every man in Shchem. Yaakov was very distressed and strongly reprimanded them for this.
After this Yaakov’s beloved wife Rachel gives birth to their youngest child, Binyamin, but Rachel dies. Yaakov buries her in the city of Bethlehem. Rachel’s grave-site in Betlehem is visited by tens of thousand of Jews to this day.
On his way home, Yaakov is also notified of the passing of his mother, Rivkah. Yaakov finally comes home after leaving his father-in-law, Lavan. The next twenty years he spends together with his father, Yitzchak. At the end of the Parsha we read about Yitzchak’s passing at the age of 180.
Q. How many years was Yaakov away from home?
A. Thirty five years. He left single and returned with a family of twelve sons and one daughter.
Yaakov and his eleven sons bowed to Eisav. The only one of Yaakov’s children who didn’t bow to Eisav was Binyamin, as he was not born yet at the time of that encounter. He was the only one of Yaakov’s children to be born in Israel. One of the reasons that the Holy Temple (Beth Hamikdash)was built in Jerusalem, on the land of Binyamin, was because he didn’t bow to Eisav!
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:01