B"H

Thursday, Kislev 14, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 8, 2022

This week’s Parsha, Vayishlach, is the story of Yaakov (Jacob) and his family returning to the land of Canaan, the land where his parents lived and which G-d promised to give to the children of Israel.

Yaakov had just spent twenty years with his father-in-law, Lavan. Twenty very difficult years in which he worked day and night for Lavan and was swindled by Lavan a hundred times.

Yaakov describes his difficult years with Lavan, when Lavan confronted him and wanted to harm him. Yaakov complains; “Twenty years I have been with you, your sheep and your goats have not lost their young and the rams of your flocks I have not eaten… During the day the drought consumed me and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from my eyes…”

Now, Yaakov was on his way home with his four wives, eleven sons and one daughter. He was rid of his problems with his father-in-law, but a new problem was awaiting him. His brother, Esau, who for the past 34 years was plotting to kill Yaakov, was coming towards him with 400 men. The Torah tells us that Yaakov was very scared.

Yaakov devises a plan. First he prays that G-d should save him. “G-d of my father, Abraham, and my father Isaac, Who has said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your birth place and I will do good with you… 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 together with the children. And You had said to me, “I will do you good and make your seed as the sand of the sea which cannot be counted for its multitude.”

In addition, he sends gifts to Esau to soften his anger against him. He also prepares for war. In the end, G-d made sure that Esau wouldn’t harm Yaakov. They met and parted without incident.

Q.If G-d promised Yaakov that He will protect and be with him, then why was he afraid of Easu?

A.Yaakov was away from his parents for more than 34 years, while Esau was there to take care of his parents and especially of his blind father, Isaac. Yaakov was afraid that G-d may reward Esau now for the great mitzvah of honoring his parents.

The Talmudic sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel said, "All my life I tried to honor my father to the fullest, yet I have not attained one hundredth of the honor which Esau gave to his father."  Rabbi Shimon explained that Esau would dress in the most expensive garments, whenever he served his father, even though his father was blind and even when he performed the most ordinary chores.

Yaakov was afraid that G-d would reward Esau in thisworld, for his special mitzvah while fulfilling His promise to Yaakov in the World to Come.

From this we see how great the mitzvah of honoring parents is.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY