Thursday, Kislev 10, 5784 / November 23, 2023
This week’s Parsha Vayeitzei tells the story of Yaakov leaving his parents’ home, because his brother, Esau, wanted to kill him. He went to his uncle, Lavan, who lived in Charan. On the way he had a dream in which he saw a ladder extending from earth all the way to heaven and angels were going up and down the ladder. G-d promises him that He will watch over him, bless him and return him in safety.
When he came to Charan he met his cousin Rachel at a well, where she came with her father’s sheep. He showed great strength by removing the rock from the mouth of the well and gave her sheep to drink. Yaakov wants to marry Rachel and offers his uncle, Lavan, to work for him for seven years for Rachel. Lavan agrees but on the wedding night he gave him his older daughter, Leah, instead of Rachel. When Yaakov complained, his uncle responds that it is not proper to give the younger daughter before the older one. Yaakov offers to work another seven years for Rachel. Lavan accepts and Yaakov also marries Rachel. In addition to Leah and Rachel, Yaakov marries two more daughters of Lavan, Bilha and Zilpa. From these four wives Yaakov had twelve sons, from which the Ten Tribes were descendant. He also has one daughter, Dina.
Although Yaakov came to Lavan a poor man, when he left Lavan, he had great wealth, due to G-d’s blessings. At the end of the Parsha we read how Yaakov, knowing the character of his father-in-law, was afraid that he will not let him leave with his wives and children, decides to leave while Lavan was away. Lavan chased after them, but Lavan was warned in a dream not to harm Yaakov. Thus, this Parsha begins with Yaakov’s dream and ends with Lavan’s dream.
Q. How old was Yaakov when he left his parents and how old when he came to Lavan?
A. Yaakov was 63 when he left his parents. On the way to Lavan he stopped at the yeshiva of Ever, where he studied for 14 years. Thus, when Yaakov came to Lavan he was 77.
Q. How old was Yaakov when he married Leah? How old was he when he married Rachel?
A. As mentioned, he worked seven years before he married Leah. Yaakov waited seven days then married Rachel. He was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.
Q. How many years did Yaakov stay with Lavan?
A. Twenty years. Fourteen years he worked so he can marry Leah and Rachel. He worked another six years for Laven and was blessed by G-d with great wealth.
Q. Who else, in the Torah, had to flee from someone who wanted to kill him and met his future wife, who was leading her father’s sheep at the well?
A. Moshe. The Torah tells us (Exodus 2:16) that when Moshe fled Pharaoh, who wanted to kill him, he met his future wife, Tzipporah, at a well. The other shepherds would chase them away, but Moshe helped them and gave their flock to drink.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
B"H
Friday, Kislev 11, 5784 / November 24, 2023
In the beginning of this week's Parsha, Vayeitzei, the Torah tells about Yaakov's famous dream. In his dream he saw, "a ladder stood upon the earth and the top of the ladder reached into heaven and G-d's angels ascended and descended upon it. G-d was standing over him and said, ‘I am G-d, the G-d of Abraham your father, and the G-d of Yitzchak. I will give to you and to your descendants the land on which you are lying.’"
According to our sages, the ladder which Yaakov saw in his dream, represents our prayers. Through the ladder of prayer we connect to G-d.
Prayer is a very important part of Judaism and our connection to G-d. We pray three times daily; Shacharit (Morning Prayer), Mincha (Afternoon Prayer) and Maariv (Evening Prayer).
The prayers have their roots with our patriarchs, Abraham, Yitzchak (Isaac) and Yaakov (Jacob).
The Morning Prayer is associated with Abraham; the afternoon prayer with Yitzchak and the evening prayer is mentioned in this Parsha in connection with Yaakov, who prayed in the evening, before going to sleep.
Although the structure of the prayers, as we know them today, have been compiled many years later by Ezra the scribe and the Rabbis of the Great Assembly, the concept of the prayers and their origin are related to the patriarchs.
Q. In Hebrew prayer is called “Tefilah.” Why?
A. One reason is that “Tefilah” comes from the word connect. Through prayer we connect to G-d.
Q. In Yiddish prayer is called, “Daven.” Why?
A. The Yiddish word for prayer "Daven" comes from the word "D'Avuhon" which means "from our fathers." As the three prayers are associated to our forefathers: Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.
Q. Why do many Jews sway back and forth while praying?
A. In Psalms (35:10) Kind David refers to prayer as, "All my limbs say G-d, Who is like you." Through the movements of our body, our entire body ("all my limbs") is involved in the prayers.
Also, our soul is likened to a candle (Proverbs 20:27). Just as a flame of the candle continuously moves and flickers, rising upwards, so too, when we pray, our soul ("candle of G-d") constantly moves in its desire to connect to its source - to G-d.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY &SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 3:58 / Shabbat ends: 5:05
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
B"H
Monday, Kislev 14, 5784 / November 27, 2023
This Shabbat we will read Parshat Vayishlach. In this Parsha the Torah relates the story of how Yaakov (Jacob) returns, together with his family back to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.
On the way home, Yaakov hears that his brother Eisav (Esau), who is still angry at him for getting their father’s blessings, is coming toward him to kill him.
Yaakov sends angels as messengers to tell Esau that he wants peace. However, when the messengers return, they tell Yaakov that Eisav is coming with 400 men to fight him.
Upon hearing this, Yaakov became frightened. He then forms a three-tier plan to counter Eisav's threat. 1) Yaakov prays to G-d to save him and his family. 2) He sends gifts to his brother in the hope of appeasing him. 3) In case that doesn’t work, he also prepares for war.
The Torah tells us how, even before meeting Eisav, Yaakov battled with Eisav’s guardian angel and won. Now, Yaakov felt more assured that he will be safe with Eisav too.
When they finally meet, Yaakov bows seven times to Eisav. Yaakov’s wives and sons also bow to Eisav. When Eisav sees this, he has a change of heart and he hugs and kisses Yaakov. Yaakov and family continue travelling to his parents.
On the way he had to contend with more troubling situations. In the city of Shchem, his only daughter, Dina, was forcefully violated by the prince of the land. Two of Dina’s brothers were so angered that, without Yaakov’s knowledge, they killed every man in Shchem. Yaakov was very distressed and strongly reprimanded them for this. He then continues on his way to his father’s home.
After this Yaakov’s beloved wife Rachel gives birth to their youngest child, Binyamin (Benjamin), but Rachel dies. Yaakov buries her in the city of Bethlehem. Rachel’s gravesite in Betlehem is visited by tens of thousands of Jews to this day.
On his way home, Yaakov is also notified of the passing of his mother, Rivkah. Yaakov finally comes home after leaving his father-in-law, Lavan. The next twenty years he spends together with his father, Yitzchak. At the end of the Parsha we read about Yitzchak’s passing at the age of 180.
Q. How many years was Yaakov away from home?
A. Thirty-six years. He left single and returned with a family of twelve sons and one daughter.
Q. How old was his mother, Rivkah and his wife Rochel, when they passed away?
A. Yaakov’s mother Rivkah lived about 120 years. His wife Rachel passed away young at about 36.
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 15, 5784 / November 28, 2023
This week's Parsha is Vayishlach. In this Parsha, we read about many of the trials which Yaakov encountered while returning home from his father-in-law, Lavan.
Yaakov hears that his brother, Esau, who wants to kill him, is coming together with 400 men towards them. 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 their father’s blessings, which Esau wanted for himself. At the same time he prepares for battle and prays for G-d's help.
Even though G-d had promised to watch over him and bring him back to the land of Canaan, Yaakov was still afraid. He was afraid that he may have lost this merit of G-d's protection due to the fact that he was away from his parents for so many years. Whereas Esau, who was with his parents all this time, observed the great mitzvah of Honoring his father and mother, by taking care of them.
The Torah describes a battle between Yaakov and "a man" which our sages say was Esau's guardian angel. Although he was slightly injured, Yaakov wins the battle with Esau’s angel. G-d tells Yaakov, "Your name shall not be called Yaakov anymore, but Israel shall be your name."
The name Yaakov was given to him at birth because he was holding unto the heel of his brother Esau. Yaakov means "heel" and represents a lower level. "Israel" means master and leader. It is due to this story that the Jewish people are called Israel.
In the end, Esau realized that he wouldn’t be able to defeat Yaakov. Yaakov presents Esau with gifts. He tells Esau, "Take my gift that is brought to you; because G-d had been gracious with me, and because I have enough."
Yaakov tells Esau to accept his gifts. "Because G-d had been gracious 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 I will lose my livelihood," complained the Chasid.
"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.
"When the horse looks in the water and sees his own reflection in the water, 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," replied Rabbi Meir.
"It is the same with you!" the Rebbe went on. "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 you and for the other person. Whatever is bashert (destined) for the other person will not diminish one bit of that which is destined for you!"
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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