B"H

Friday, Kislev 8, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 2, 2022

In this week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, we read the story of how Yaakov leaves his parents, who lived in Be’er Sheva, and went to the city of Charan, where his mother’s brother, Lavan, lived. There was a double purpose for this journey; to escape his brother, Esau, who wants to kill him and also to find a wife from among Lavan’s daughters.

Q.How old was Yaakov when he came to his father-in-law, Lavan?

A. Yaakov was seventy seven when he came to Lavan.

After working seven years for Rachel, Lavan fooled him and gave him Leah instead. When Yaakov complained, he told him that for another seven years of work, he will give him Rachel too. In truth, Yaakov worked all fourteen years for Rachel. The first seven years he thought he was working for Rachel, but was fooled and given Leah instead. The second seven years he really worked for Rachel.

Q.Yaakov was eighty four when he married Leah. How much later did he marry Rachel?

A.The first seven years, Yaakov worked before Lavan gave him his daughter Leah. But the second seven years he worked off after marrying Rachel. A week after his wedding to Leah he married Rachel. Yaakov was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.

Q.How many years did Yaakov stay with his father-in-law, Lavan?

A.Twenty years. During this time, eleven of his sons and his daughter, Dina, were born. Yaakov was 97 when he left Lavan; he was 99 when he rejoined his father, Yitzchak, who was 159. His mother Rivkah had already passed away.

Q.How old were his children when he left Lavan’s home?

A.His oldest son, Reuven, was over Bar Mitzvah and his youngest at that time, Joseph, was 6.

Q.  When and where was Yaakov’s twelfth son, Binyamin (Benjamin), born?

A.  Binyamin was born two years after Yaakov left his father-in-law. He was born when Yaakon arrived back in the Land of Canaan (Israel). Yaakov was over 100 when Binyamin was born.

Q. Did Yaakov leave on good terms with his father-in-law?

A.No. Yaakov had to leave with his family and possessions while Lavan was away from home. Yaakov was too valuable to be let go, as G-d blessed Lavan with great wealth as a result of Yaakov. When Lavan found out, he chased after them and wanted to harm them. G-d appeared to him in a dream and warned him not to harm them.

   SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal Shabbat candle lighting time: 3:54 / Shabbat ends: 5:02

B"H

Monday, Kislev 11, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 5, 2022

Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayishlach.  In the Parsha the Torah tells us about the many tribulations that Yaakov encountered on the way back to his parents, Yitzchak, and Rivkah. 

Yaakov hears that his brother, Esau, who for the past 34 years wants to kill him, is coming toward him with 400 men. The Torah tells us that, "Yaakov was greatly afraid and distressed."  Yaakov sends gifts to appease Esau so that he would forgive him for taking away the blessings, while at the same time preparing for battle and praying for G-d's help.

In this Parsha the Torah describes a battle between Yaakov and "a man," which our sages say was Esau's guardian angel. Yaakov is victorious.  G-d tells Yaakov, "Your name shall not be called any more Yaakov (Jacob) but Israel shall be your name."

The origin of the name Children of Israel is in this Parsha when G-d changed Yaakov’s name to Israel.

Q. Yaakov/Israel is the only one of our forefathers who had two names. At times, the Torah calls him Yaakov and at times he is called, Israel. What is the reason for these two names?

A.  His name Yaakov was given to him at birth because he was holding onto the heel of his brother Esau. Yaakov means "heel" and represents a lower level.  "Israel" means leadership, which represents courage and strength. 

The two names represent the different stages of the Jewish people. Israel represents the times of Jewish greatness and glory.  Yaakov relates to the times of suffering and exile.

G-d answered Yaakov’s prayers to save him from Esau by sending angels to put fear into Esau and his men. When Yaakov and Esau meet, Esau kisses Yaakov, although he refuses Yaakov’s gifts.  Yaakov insists, saying, "Take my gift because G-d had been gracious with me, and because I have enough."

A Chasid once came to Rabbi Meir of Premishlan and complained that someone in town opened the same business as his.  "I am very worried that he will take away my livelihood," the Chasid said.

"Did you ever see, when a horse drinks water from a river, he kicks his hoof in the water.  Do you know why?"  The Rebbe asked.   "No," replied the Chasid. 

"I will tell you why," said Rabbi Meir.  "When the horse looks in the water and he sees his own reflection, he thinks there is another horse there.  Now he is afraid that the other horse will drink up all the water, so he tries to frighten him away by kicking his hoofs!"

"It is the same with you!" continued Rabbi Meir. "You think that if someone else is trying to make a living, it will take away from you.  That is not so. G-d has enough for everyone. Whatever is destined for the other person will not diminish one bit from that which G-d has destined for you!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Kislev 12, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / December 6, 2022

The first Chanukah candle will be kindled Sunday night, December 18.  Each night of Chanukah we add an additional candle. Sunday night, Sunday night, December 25, we will light a total of eight candles. 

In addition to the Chanukah candles, we also light an additional candle each night, called “The Shamesh.”  We light the Shamesh first and with it we kindle the rest of the lights.  The Shamesh is lit on the menorah a bit higher than the regular Chanukah candles.

The total number of candles we light during Chanukah (excluding the Shamesh) is 36. Two times Chai.

Q.  Why is that candle called “Shamesh”?  Why do we need the Shamesh?

A.  The definition of “Shamesh” is one who “serves.”  Because this candle serves to kindle the Chanukah lights it is called Shamesh. The reason we leave the Shamesh lit after we kindle the Chanukah lights is because we are prohibited from having any benefit from the Chanukah lights.  Thus, we leave this candle lit, so if we forget and have any use from the light, it would be considered as if we had it from the Shamesh.

Q. Why is the holiday called Chanukah?

A.  "Chanukah" means "dedication".  On the 25th of Kislev, the Chashmonaim re-dedicated the Holy Temple after it was desecrated by the Greek pagan worshippers.

Another reason: "Chanukah" can also be split into two words; "Chanu" which means "they rested"; "Kah" numerically represents the number "twenty-five".  In this context "Chanukah" describes the miracle on the battlefield in which the small Jewish army of the Maccabees were victorious in their battles and they rested on the 25th day of the month Kislev - the day when Chanukah begins.

Q.   On Chanukah we play Dreidel, or Sevivon, in Hebrew. What is the origin of the Dreidel?

A.  The Greek-Syrians and their Hellenistic sympathizers prohibited Jews from performing many mitzvot, including teaching Torah to Jewish children. Any child caught studying Torah was severely punished. However, the teachers and students devised a way around this ban. They would gather to study and when the one on the lookout would spot a Greek soldier he would warn them.  The children would hide their books and begin playing with the Dreidel.

Q.   What is the  significance of the four Hebrew letters on the Driedel; Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin?

A.  The four letters on the Dreidel stand for: "Nes, Gadol, Haya, Sham" - "A great miracle happened there".  In Israel, the letter "Shin" is substituted with the letter "Pay".  It stands for the Hebrew word "Poh", "Here" ("A great miracle happened here"), for the miracle took place in Israel. 

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY