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Tuesday, Kislev 12, 5776 / November 24, 2015 – Hakhel Year

Question & answers based on the Parsha of the week, Vayishlach.

Q.Yaakov and his family are returning to his parents’ home in Canaan. How many years was he absent from his parents?

A.He spent fourteen years at the Yeshiva of Eiver. Twenty years at his father-in-law, Lavan and almost two years on the way. He was away for a total of 36 years.

Q.  How old was Yaakov when he left his parents and how old was he when he came back?  

A.  He was 63 when he left and was 99 when he returned.

Q.  Yaakov married four wives (Leah, Rachel, Zilpa, Bilha). With how many children did he return?

A.He left his father-in-law with 11 sons and one daughter. On the way home, as he came into Israel, his wife Rachel gave birth to his youngest son, Binyamin. He was his only son to be born in Israel.

There is an opinion in the Talmud that with each of Yaakov’s sons, a twin sister was born.

Q.   On his way home, what problems did Yaakov encounter?

A.  His way back was difficult. First, his father-in-law, Lavan, chases after him and wants to harm him. But G-d came to Lavan in a dream and warned him not to harm Yaakov. Then, Yaakov encounters a “man” (Esau’s guardian angel) who struggles with him. Yaakov overpowers him, but he causes Yaakov to limp. Then, his brother, Esau, comes toward him with 400 men to prevent him from returning to Israel (Canaan). G-d sent angels to frighten Esau and he abandons his plan. Then Yaakov’s daughter, Dina, is kidnapped by the ruler of Shchem and is violated. When Yaakov finally comes to Israel, his wife, Rachel, gives birth to Binyamin, but she passes away at childbirth. He buries her at the side of the road in Bethlehem.

Q.  Why did Yaakov bury her at the side of the road? Why didn’t he bury her in the family’s burial plot in Hebron which was close to Bethlehem?

A.  We are told that Yaakov did this because he knew that one day Jews would be exiled from Jerusalem and would pass by this road. He wanted them to pass by their mother’s grave, so she would invoke her prayers on their behalf.

Q.  Did Yaakov see his parents when he returned?

A.  His mother, Rivkah, passed away while he was travelling home. His father, Yitzchak, was 160 when Yaakov returned and lived to 180. Thus, Yaakov and Yitzchak lived together for another twenty years.

   HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY