B"H
Friday, Kislev 1, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / November 25, 2022
Today is the second day of Rosh Chodesh and the first day of the new month, Kislev.
This is a special month as on the 25th day of the month we celebrate the holiday of Chanukah.
This week’s Parsha, Toldot, begins with the struggle of Esau and Yaakov, which began while they were still in their mother’s womb. Even 147 years later, when Yaakov’s body was brought from Egypt to be buried in Hebron, Esau tried to stop the burial process, claiming that he had the rights to that plot. Thus, Yaakov and Esau were buried on the same day, at the age of 147.
Q. At what age did Yaakov marry and at what age did Esau marry?
A. The Parsha tells us that Esau was 40 years old when he married. He imitated his father who married at the age of 40. However, the Torah tells us that the women he married caused Isaac and Rivkah great anguish as they worshipped idols. In the next Parsha, we will read about Yaakov’s marriage.
Yaakov was 84 years old when he got married.
Q. In the Parsha we read about the blessings which Yitzchak gave to Yaakov and later also to Esau. However, to Yaakov he says, “May G-d give you of the dew of the heaven and of the fat of the earth." But when Yitzchak later blessed Esau, he reversed the order, saying, "Of the fat places of the earth shall be your dwelling and of the dew from heaven above." Why did Yitzchak bless Yaakov with the dew from heaven first and then the fat of the earth, but to Esau he said it in reverse?
A. “Heaven” and “earth” represent spiritual (heaven) and physical (earth). Our sages explain that the blessing to Yaakov was in essence a blessing and guideline for the Jewish people, who are descendants of Yaakov.
Yitzchak blessed Yaakov that “heavenly matters" should always come first. The performance of Mitzvot ("heaven") should be the goal and objective of a Jew's worldly success ("earth").
Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, who was a holy man, would take a shortcut, which took him up and down a hill, in order to get to the Mikvah (ritual bath). He would take this shortcut even during the winter wonts when the mountain was icy. Others who tried to do the same, failed. They slid on the ice and were badly bruised. When asked how he walks up and down the hill on the ice, he replied, "When one is attached to above, one doesn't fall down below!"
Yitzchak blessed Yaakov that heavenly matters (Torah and Mitzvot) be his guideline, even when dealing with worldly matters. Being connected to G-d is our safety-net from the pitfalls earthly matters can cause.
SHABBAT SHALOM & A HAPPY, HEALTHY CHODESH-MONTH
Shabbat candle lighting time: 3:58 / Shabbat ends: 5:03