B"H

Tuesday, Kislev 5, 5776 / November 17, 2015

This week’s Parsha Vayeitzei. In the Parsha the Torah relates the story of how Yaakov leaves his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah, to go to his uncle, Lavan, who lived in Charan.

Yaakov’s travelling to his uncle had a double purpose. 1) To flee from his brother Esau, who wanted to kill him after Yaakov received his father’s blessings, which were originally intended for Esau. 2) He goes to his uncle Lavan, with the intention to marry one of Lavan’s daughters.

However, on his way to Lavan, Yaakov stopped off to study at the Yeshiva (study halls) of Eiver (great grandson of Noah). He was there for 14 years, after which he continued his journey to Charan.

When he finally came to Charan, he met Lavan’s younger daughter, Rachel, at the well. He was taken by her beauty and piety. Yaakov promised Lavan that he would work for him seven years for his permission to marry his daughter Rachel. Lavan agreed. But, after working seven years, Lavan fooled him and gave him his older daughter, Leah, instead. 

Yaakov then promised to work another seven years for Rachel. Lavan agreed, but, whereas the first seven years he worked before his marriage, the second seven he worked for his father-in-law, only after marrying Rachel. Yaakov ended up working fourteen years for Lavan’s two daughters.

In addition, he also married Bilha and Zilpa, who were half sisters to Rachel and Leah. Thus, Yaakov had four wives from whom he had his twelve sons and his daughter, Dina. These twelve sons were the origin of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Eleven of Yaakov’s sons and Dina were born in Charan. His youngest son, Binyamin, was his only child born in Canaan (Israel). Binyamin was born when Yaakov was on his way back to his father’s home.

Q.   How old was Yaakov when he left his parents and when he came to Lavan?

A.   Yaakov was 63 years old when he left his parents home.  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 and Rachel?

A.As mentioned, he worked seven years before he married Leah. Yaakov waited seven days then married Rachel.  Thus, he was 84 when he married Leah and Rachel.

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

A.  Twenty years. Fourteen years he worked for the privilege of marrying Leah and Rachel. He worked another six years, during which time G-d blessed Yaakov with great wealth. He was 97 when he left Lavan and returned to his parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.  

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 30, 5776 / November 12, 2015

Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Kislev. 

Because it is Rosh Chodesh there are additional prayers during the morning service. The Torah reading this morning is not the regular Thursday morning reading from the Parsha of the week, but the special Rosh Chodesh reading. Instead of three people being called up to the Torah, as on a regular Monday and Thursday Torah reading, four people are called up today, in honor of Rosh Chodesh.

Q.Why are four people called up to the Torah on Rosh Chodesh?   

A.The minimum people called up to the Torah are three people. As the day carries more of a holiday nature we add to the regular call ups. Thus, on Rosh Chodesh, we call up four people to the Torah. On the holidays we have five call ups; On Yom Kippur we call up six people to the Torah. On Shabbat, which is in many ways even holier than Yom Kippur, we call up seven (except for the Maftir).

In this week’s Parsha, Toldot, we read about the birth of the twins, Esau and Yaakov (Jacob), to their parents, Yitzchak and Rivkah.

The Torah tells us that when they grew up, “Esau was a hunter, a man of the field; and Yaakov was a quiet man sitting in the tents."  Our sages explain that “The Tents” here refers to the study halls of Shem and his great grandson, Aiver.  Although the Torah was not given yet to the Jewish people, these great holy people, as well as our forefathers, Abraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, studied the Torah through their special Divine connection.

Yitzchak, who was blind, wasn't aware of the true character of his older son and he loved Esau, but Rivkah loved Yaakov. When Yitzchak told Esau to bring him food so that he may bless him, Rivkah prepared the food, while Esau was still out in the field, and had Yaakov bring it to Yitzchak so that he, instead of Esau, would be blessed.

In the end Yitzchak blessed them both, however we find a striking difference between the blessing to Yaakov and the one to Esau. The blessings which Yitzchak gave to Yaakov begin, "May G-d give you of the dew of the heaven and of the fat of the earth."  But when Yitzchak later blessed Esau, he reversed the order, saying, "Of the fat places of the earth shall be your dwelling and of the dew from heaven above."

Q.   Why in the blessing to Yaakov, he mentions heaven first, and to Esau he mentions earth first?

A.   Our sages explain that the blessing to Yaakov and through him to his descendants - the Jewish people, was that to them heavenly andspiritually matters should come first.  In other words, the performance of Mitzvot ("heaven") should be the goal and objective of a Jew.  Earthly matters should be a means to an end.  Thus, the physical and spiritual are constantly connected.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL DAY & CHODESH-MONTH

B"H

Wednesday, Mar-Cheshvan 29, 5776 / November 11, 2015

I begin today’s Torah Fax with special thanks to G-d for his blessings and kindness to our family, as we celebrated our grandson’s engagement Monday night, in N.Y.  May Hashem bless you too with much Nachas and joy from your loved ones.

In this week's Parsha, Toldot, the Torah tells us that Yitzchak (Isaac) and Rivkah (Rebbeca), after twenty years of marriage were still not blessed with children. They prayed and G-d answered their prayers.  Rivkah conceived, but she had a very difficult pregnancy. There was a constant struggle within her womb. Rivkah was distressed and went to Noach's son, Shaim, to inquire about her situation.

Shaim told her, "There are two nations within your womb.  Two peoples shall be separated from you and the elder one will serve the younger one".  When Rivkah gave birth, she indeed, had twins. The first child who emerged was ruddy, with a mantle of hair and they called his name Esau.  Then his brother came forth holding Esau's heel.  He was named Yaakov (Jacob).

Q.Why is it that three of our matriarchs; Sarah, Rivkah and Rachel couldn’t have children by the laws of nature, only through a miracle?

A.  Our sages explain that G-d wanted them to pray to Him, for He loves the prayers of the righteous.

It also teaches us that the birth and existence of the Jewish nation is related to forces much higher than nature.  Sarah gave birth to Yitzchak at the age of 90 defying the laws of nature.  Jacob's birth was also related to the prayer of his parents. Jacob had his children when he was in his eighties. Jewish existence and survival, throughout the generations and to this day, was and is connected with G-dly forces higher than nature.

"Tefilah" - "Prayer" is an essential part of our Jewish faith.  Our sages find the importance of the mitzvah of prayer in the Sh'ma Israel (Hear O' Israel...), which we recite every morning and night each day of the year; "...To love the L-rd your G-d and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul..."  To "serve Him with all your heart" refers to prayer which is a service of the heart.

Prayer is one of the principles of Jewish faith.

Is it ever too late for prayer to help?  Rabbi Yochanan and Rabbi Elazar said, "Even if a sharp sword is actually resting on a man's neck, he should not hold himself back from praying for G-d's mercy!"

Does one's continuous prayers become bothersome to G-d?  Rabbi Ze'era said, "A person who has a friend who beseeches him with his needs and pleas continuously may come to dislike him and avoid him.  But, with the Holy One blessed be He, it is not so.  The more a person pleads with G-d for his needs the more G-d loves him..."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY