B"H

Monday, Kislev 15, 5785 / December 16, 2024

This week's Parsha, Vayeishev, describes the special relationship that Yaakov had with his son Joseph.  The Torah says, "Israel [Yaakov] loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son born to him in his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors."  Yaakov's special relationship with Joseph caused jealousy and rift between the brothers and Joseph.

We read about Joseph's dreams which he told his brothers, for which they hated him even more. In his first dream, he and his brothers were out in the field binding sheaves when his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to his. In the second dream, the sun, moon and eleven stars bowed to him. The eleven stars refer to his eleven brothers, further increasing their jealousy and hatred for him.

Later, when Yaakov sends Joseph out to the field to check on his brothers, they sell him to a caravan of merchants and Joseph ends up in Egypt where he is sold as a slave to Potifar. When Joseph refuses the advances of Potifar's wife and runs out of the house, she later complains to her husband that it was Joseph who wanted to force himself upon her, which results in Joseph being imprisoned.

At the end of the Parsha, Joseph properly interprets the dreams of the king's butler and baker who were also in prison. In next week's Parsha, Mikeitz, Joseph is summoned to interpret King Pharaoh's dreams, as a result of which Pharaoh appoints him ruler over Egypt.

All these years, Yaakov thought that Joseph was devoured by a wild animal, and he mourned for him all these years.  Only later, as we will read in Parshat, Vayigash, did Joseph, who was the ruler of Egypt, bring his father, Yaakov, and his brothers to Egypt where Yaakov was re-united with his son, Joseph.

Q.   How many years were Yaakov and Joseph separated?

A.   They were separated 22 years.  Joseph was sold at age 17 and reunited with Yaakov at age 39.

Q.   What did Yaakov do to deserve such a harsh punishment for 22 years?

A.   It was measure for measure for the 22 years which Yaakov was away from his parents. Yaakov spent 20 years away from home, with his father-in-law, Lavan, and two more years on the road returning home.  For those 22 years that he was away, his son Joseph was away from him.

Although it may have been a punishment, yet Joseph's ending up in Egypt was ordained by Divine Providence to benefit Yaakov and his family.  G-d told Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land.  By Joseph being the ruler of Egypt, it made Yaakov’s transition to Egypt much easier and with dignity.

The Talmud says that this story is a lesson for parents not to show favor to one child over another.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

B"H

Friday, Kislev 12, 5785 / December 13, 2024

In two weeks, Wednesday night, December 25, we will light the first Chanukah light - ushering in the Chanukah holiday, which will last for eight days. Each night thereafter, we add an additional light, until we light the full eight lights of the Chanukah Menorah.

The reason we celebrate the holiday for eight days is because Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the lights in the Holy Temple, when a small amount of oil, barely enough for one day, miraculously lasted eight days.

There are two kinds of Chanukah menorahs. Some are made for candles, and some are made for oil. While candles may be more common and practical, many prefer to use olive oil.

Q.  What is the reason for using olive oil?

A.  In the Beth Hamikdash (Holy Temple), where the miracle took place, only the purest olive oil was permitted to be used for the Menorah. Because the Chanukah lights commemorate the miracle of the menorah in the Holy Temple, many use olive oil to perform this special mitzvah. 

Q.   Why was olive oil used in the menorah of the Holy Temple?

A.  The Midrash explains why the Jewish people are compared to olive oil. Other liquids mix well with each other, but oil, when mixed with other liquids, will eventually separate and float to the top. So too, we have been amongst the many nations, over the past 2000 years, who tried to assimilate us. Yet, the Jewish people retained their unique identity and eventually would rise up.

The menorah and its seven branches represent the Jewish people. The Jewish people are also compared to an olive. Just like the olive produces its fine oil when it is pressed, so too, the Jewish people produced their greatest scholars and performed their greatest accomplishments under the difficulties and pressures of exile. 

Challenges bring out the best in us and reveal within us capabilities we would never otherwise know we have. It’s through the pressing of the olive that it gives forth its greatest light. Thus, olive oil is used in the menorah which represents the shine and brightness of the Jewish people.

Q.   Is Chanukah a Biblicalholiday, or a rabbinicalholiday?

A.  There are 613 mitzvot in the Torah. In addition, there are 7 rabbinic mitzvot, for a total of 620 mitzvot. Chanukah is one of the seven rabbinical mitzvot. The miracle of Chanukah took place about 1200 years after the Giving of the Torah. It was established by the sages.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 3:53 / Shabbat ends: 5:01

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW

B"H

Thursday, Kislev 11, 5785 / December 12, 2024

In this week’s Parsha, Vayishlach,the Torah tells us about Yaakov’s (Jacob) encounter with his brother, Esau. In the beginning Yaakov was very fearful of Esau, who many years earlier wanted to kill him. Yaakov sends messengers with gifts to Esau to tell Esau that he wants peace. When they finally meet after 34 years of separation, Esau shows affection for Yaakov and his family. He hugs and kisses Yaakov and Yaakov introduces his family to Esau.

Q.   The Parsha begins with the encounter between Yaakov and Esau as Yaakov was on his way returning from his father-in-law Lavan, where he spent 20 years.  How long was Yaakov on the road until he came back to his parents?

A.   It took two years until Yaakov and his family came home to his parents. However, by the time Yaakov came home his mother, Rivkah, had already passed away.

Q.   The Torah tells us that before meeting Esau, “Yaakov took his wives and his eleven children and crossed them over the stream.”  Yaakov, at this time, had eleven sons and one daughter, Dina.  What happened to child number twelve?

A.   Our sages say that Yaakov was worried that Esau may fall in love with Dina and want to marry her.  To avoid this, Yaakov placed her in a box, so that his brother, Esau, will not see her.

Q.   In the Parsha we read how, on the way, Rachel gave birth to her second son, Binyamin. She passed away in childbirth.  How old was Rachel when she passed away?

A.   The Torah doesn’t give us her age, but our sages say that she was only thirty six.

Q.   Why did Rachel pass away at such a young age?

A.  When Yaakov left his father-in-law, Lavan, who was an idol worshipper, Rachel “stole her father’s idols,” so that he wouldn’t worship idols anymore. Yaakov had no idea that Rachel took them.  When Lavan chased after Yaakov and asked him, “Why did you steal my god,” Yaakov said that he didn’t steal them and added, “With whomever you will find them they shall not live.”  Due to this statement, Rachel, who did steal them, died very soon after.

Q.  The Torah tells us, “And Rachel died and was buried at the road of Ephrata which is Beth-Lechem (Bethlehem).”  Why did Yaakov bury his beloved wife Rachel at the side of the road and not in the city?

A.   Our sages say that Yaakov knew that eventually the Holy Temple will be destroyed, the Jewish people will be exiled and driven out of Jerusalem. On their way they will travel on that road by Bethlehem.  For their benefit he buried Rachel at the side of the road so when they pass her grave Rachel will pray for them.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW