B"H

Wednesday, Kislev 6, 5776 / November 18, 2015

In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, we learn that after Yaakov left his parents in Be’er Sheva, on his way to Charan, “He encountered thisplace ("vayifga bamakom") and because the sun had set, he lay down to sleep in that place. He dreamed that a ladder was set in the earth and the top of it reached into heaven and the angels of G-d were ascending and descending on it.” 

In his dream, G-d tells him, “I am the L-rd, the G-d of Abraham and Yitzchak, the land upon which you are lying upon it, to you I will give it and to your children. And your children will be as the dust of the earth and you shall spread to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south. “I will be with you and I will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back to this land.”

When Yaakov left his parents he went with a heavy heart, as he was fleeing from his brother, Esau. But after his wonderful dream, Yaakov's spirits were uplifted and he proceeded to his uncle Lavan with great hope for the future. The balance of the Parsha is the story of Yaakov's twenty years at Lavan's home.

G-d’s promise to Yaakov, “The land upon which you are lying upon to you I will give it and to your children,” refers to the Landof Israel. Here G-d promised him that the land will be given to his descendents - to the Jewish people.  One land to one people.

Q.The Torah says, "Vayifga bamakom - And he came upon the place." Why doesn’t the Torah tell us which place?

A.When G-d tested Abraham by commanding him to bring his son, Yitzchak, as a sacrifice, it says that Abraham, “saw the place from far.” The place here refers to the same place as there. Our sages tell us that this place is MountMoriah – The Temple Mount, where the Holy Temple would eventually be built.

The word, "Vayifga" also means, "prayer.”  The Torah tells us that Yaakov also prayed at the Temple Mount. Our forefathers prayed on the Temple Mount over 3,000 years ago. Thousands of years before anyone claimed any connection or assigned any importance to the Temple Mount our forefathers already considered it a sacred place and prayed there, just as Jews pray there to this very day.

The daily morning prayer (Shacharit) is associated with Abraham. The afternoon prayer (Mincha) with Yitzchak, and the evening prayer (Maariv) with Yaakov.

Q.Why do we face east when reciting the Amidah prayer three times daily?

A.We pray facing toward the place where the HolyTemple stood (Temple Mount), because our prayers ascend to heaven from there.  Those living east of the Temple Mount, pray facing west.

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In loving memory of Giancarlo Avraham Ben Carlo Ysrael Romognolo

Yartzeit is today, Kislev 6. May his soul rest in peace in Gan Eden & may his memory be a blessing.

From his family