B"H

Wednesday, Cheshvan 29, 5777 / November 30, 2016

The following are highlights of this week's Parsha, Toldot. Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebecca) have been married for 20 years and did not have children. G-d answered their prayers and Rivkah conceived twins. During her pregnancy, "the children struggled within her." 

Concerned, Rivkah went to the prophet of the time, Shem, son of Noah, to inquire the meaning of this struggle. Shem told her, "Two nations are in your womb and two peoples shall be separated from you, one will be stronger than the other and the elder one shall serve the younger one."

When Rivkah gave birth, "The first came forth ruddy, covered with hair like a hairy mantle and they called his name Esau. After that came forth his brother, and his hand was holding unto Esau's heel; and he called his name Yaakov (Jacob)."

The struggle between Esau and Yaakov, which began while they were yet in their mother's womb, continued throughout their life.

Yitzchak, who was blind, thought that Esau was a pious person. Esau fooled his father by asking questions that indicated piety and a very religious nature. Rivkah knew the true character of her son, Esau. Yet, in order not to cause her husband pain, she didn't reveal to him, Esau's true identity.

When Yitzchak told Esau to prepare him food so that he may receive his blessings, Rivkah prepared food and commanded Yaakov to bring it to his father, pretending that he was Esau, so that he will receive the blessings. To protect her son from discovery, Rivkah dresses Yaakov in Esau's clothes and puts the goat skins upon Yaakov's hands so that when Yitzchak touches him he will feel hairy, just like Esau. Yaakov did as his mother told him and brought the food to his father.

Yitzchak exclaimed, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov but the hands are the hands of Esau." Yitzchak then gave Yaakov the blessings which were intended for Esau.

When Esau learned that Yaakov had taken his blessings, he decided to wait until his father's death, then take his revenge. Rivkah learned of Esau's plan and told Yaakov, "Your brother Esau wants to kill you. Now, therefore my son, flee to my brother Lavan to Charan." 

With the blessings of his parents, Yaakov left home to his uncle Lavan. Yitzchak blesses Yaakov before he leaves and tells him, "Go to Padan Aram, to the house of Betuel, your mother's father, and take a wife from the daughters of Lavan, your mother's brother.  And the Al-mighty shall bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you."

In Yitzchak's words, "The voice is the voice of Yaakov," our sages find the connection between charity and prayer. The word "Kol" (voice) which refers to prayer is the same numerical value as "Mamon" - "money" (136). This teaches us that prayer and charity-Tzedakah go hand in hand.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Cheshvan 23, 5777 / November 24, 2016

In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, we read about the passing of the first patriarch and matriarch – Abraham and Sarah.

Q.  How many years did Abraham live after Sarah’s passing?

A.Sarah passed away at the age of 127.  Abraham, who was ten years older than Sarah, passed away at the age of 175.  Thus, Abraham lived 38 years after his wife’s passing.

Q.How old was Yitzchak (Isaac) when his mother Sarah passed away?

A.Sarah was 90 when Yitzchak was born. She passed away at the age of 127. Yitzchak was 37.

Q.Abraham bought the cave of Machpeila in Hebron as the family burial plot. How much did he pay?

A.Four hundred silver shekel.  

Q.Why did he choose that particular cave? Who else is buried in the Me’arat HaMachpeila?

A.Abraham bought that particular cave because Adam & Chava (Eve) were buried there. Abraham & Sarah; Yitzchak & Rivkah; Yaakov & Leah are buried in the Me’arat Hamachpeila.

Q.Did Abraham have a daughter?

A.In this Parsha the Torah tells us, “And Abraham was old and advanced in age [days] and G-d blessed Abraham with everything [bakol].” The Torah uses the expression “Bakol.” According to one opinion in the Talmud, G-d blessed him with a daughter and her name was Bakol.

Q.Why, according to Jewish custom, is a person buried in simple (not fancy) shrouds?

A.The Talmudic sage Rabbi Gamliel instituted that all Jews be buried in the same type of garment to show that rich or poor are equal in the eyes of G-d. Thus, the shrouds (Tachrichim) are made of simple cotton or linen material.

Q.   Why are shrouds made without pockets?

A.   Our sages say, “When a person departs from this world, neither silver nor gold, nor precious stones, nor pearls accompany him. Only the Torah and good deeds one performed during their lifetime, accompany a person into the World-to-Come.” Shrouds are made without pockets to remind us that we do not take any physical possessions with us, only the Torah, mitzvot and good deeds, which become part of us, accompany us into the World-to-Come.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Wednesday, Cheshvan 22, 5777 / November 23, 2016

In this week’s Parsha, Chayei Sarah, the Torah tells how Abraham sent his faithful servant Eliezer on a mission to find a wife for his son, Yitzchak (Isaac). 

Here is the Torah account of the events: "And Abraham was old, advanced in days; and G-d blessed Abraham with everything. Abraham said to his servant [Eliezer], to my country and birthplace you shall go and take a wife for my son for Yitzchak. And the servant took ten camels of his master and all the goods of his master and he went to Aram NaHarayim. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water in the evening at the time when women go out to draw water."

At the well, Eliezer prays that G-d, "show kindness to my master Abraham." Eliezer devises the following test. He will ask the girls who come to the well for a drink and whoever not only offers him water, but also for his camels, she will be the one to marry Yitzchak. Eliezer saw Rivkah coming to the well. As she filled up her pitcher, Eliezer said, "Give me a little water from your pitcher."  Rivkah gave him to drink and then said, "Also for your camels I will draw until they have finished to drink." Eliezer knew that Rivkah was the perfect match for Yitzchak.

Eliezer showers her with presents. The Torah describes in great detail, the conversation between Eliezer and Rivkah's family. They finally agree to send Rivkah with him.

When Rivkah met Yitzchak, "She took the veil and covered herself. The Torah says, “And Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he took Rivkah and she became his wife; and he loved her.  And Isaac was comforted for his mother". 

Q.We find later in the Torah that Yitzchak sent his son Yaakov to his uncle Lavan to find a wife. Why didn’t Abraham send Yitzchak with Eliezer, so that Yitzchak can make the choice for himself?

A.When Abraham bound Yitzchak upon the altar on Mount Moriah with the intention of bringing him as a sacrifice, it gave Yitzchak a special status of holiness. As a result he was prohibited to go out of the Holy Land. Yitzchak was the only patriarch who never left the Holy Land.

Q.  What did Yitzchak, Yaakov and Moshe have in common?

A.  Their matches were made at a well. Eliezer met Rivkah, who later became Yitzchak’s wife, at the well. Yaakov met his wife, Rachel, at the well. Moshe also met his wife, Tziporah, at a well.                     

Q. The Torah uses the expression, "And Abraham was old, advanced in days.”  Why not in years?

A.Rabbi Shalom Dovber of Lubavitch said, “A [long] winter night and a summer day is like a year!” One has to make every day count. One can accomplish so much in the course of a day. The Torah tells us that Abraham was able to account, not only for his years, but also for each day of his life.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY