B"H

Monday, Kislev 8, 5785 / December 9, 2024

This week's Parsha is Vayishlach, which is the eighth Parsha in the book of Genesis (Breishit). In this Parsha, we read about many of the trials and tribulations which Yaakov encountered while returning home, to the land of Canaan, from his father-in-law, Lavan, who lived in Charan. 

On the way, Yaakov hears that his brother, Esau, who wanted to kill him and was the reason he had to flee his parents’ home, is now coming with 400 men towards him. Yaakov knew that this was not a welcoming party coming to greet him, but they were coming for war. 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, but, at the same time he prepares for battle and prays for G-d's help.

Even though G-d had promised him 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 the 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 Parsha 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 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," said the Chasid.

The Rebbe replied, "When a horse drinks water from a river, he kicks his hoof in the water.  Do you know why?"  "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!"

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 5, 5785 / December 6, 2024

This week’s Parsha, Vayeitzei, is about Yaakov’s (Jacob) leaving his parents, Yitzchak & Rivkah, and travelling to his uncle, Lavan, in Charan.

Arriving in Charan Yaakov stopped at a well, where he met his cousin and future wife, Rachel. He cries when he meets Rachel. Rachel introduces him to her father, Lavan, who invites him to stay with them.

He marries Lavan’s daughters, Leah & Rachel. He also marries Zilpah & Bilha, who were also Lavan’s daughters from another wife. In the Parsha we read how Yaakov worked for his father-in-law. The Parsha concludes with Yaakov leaving Lavan to return to his parents.

Our sages note that Yitzchak, Yaakov, and Moshe found their soul-wives near water. Yitzchak's wife, Rivkah, was chosen by Eliezer at the well after she offered to draw water for his camels. Yaakov met Rachel at the well. Moshe also met his wife Tziporah at a well. Water is a sign of blessing.

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

A.Twenty years. Yaakov was 77 when he came to Lavan and 97 when he left.

Q.Why did Yaakov cry when he met his cousin and future wife, Rachel, at the well?

A.Our sages give two reasons: 1) In contrast to when his mother, Rivkah, got engaged, she was showered with gifts, but Yaakov came empty-handed and had nothing to give Rachel, so he cried. The reason he came empty handed is because Esau’s son chased after Yaakov and took whatever he had.

2) He knew through divine prophecy that she would not be buried together with him. Indeed, as we will read in next week’s Parsha, Rachel was buried in Bethlehem, not in the family burial plot in Hebron.

Q.Which of Yaakov’s wives was buried with him in Hebron?

A.His wife Leah, who was the mother of six of his sons and his daughter, Dina.

Q.The Parsha tells us that when he came to Lavan, he came empty handed. How did he leave Lavan?

A.He left with his four wives, a family of eleven sons and one daughter. He also left with great wealth.

Q.Why did he stay with Lavan for 20 years?

A.The first 14 years he worked for his father-in-law, Lavan as payment for the right to marry his daughters, Rachel & Leah. At the end of 14 years, he was about to leave, but Lavan asked him to stay because Lavan realized that he was being blessed in Yaakov’s merit. Yaakov agreed to stay for another six years in which G-d blessed Yaakov with great wealth.

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 4, 5785 / December 5, 2024

One of the highlights of this week's Parsha, Vayeitzei, is the story of the ladder which Yaakov saw in his dream. On the way to his uncle Lavan, Yaakov stopped at Mount Moriah, where his father, Yitzchak was

brought on the altar and where the Holy Temple was built many years later. Yaakov stopped there to pray and rest for the night.

Yaakov had a dream in which he saw a ladder standing firmly on the ground and its top reached to the heaven. Yaakov saw angels going up and down the ladder. In his dream, he saw G-d standing beside him and G-d said, "I am the L-rd, the G-d of Abraham and the G-d of Yitzchak. The land on which you are lying, to you I will give it and to your descendants. And your seed shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, to the east, to the north and to the south.  And in you and your children shall all the families of the earth be blessed."

When Yaakov awoke he exclaimed, "How full of awe is this place.  This must be the House of G-d and this is the gate of heaven." Yaakov felt assured that G-d was watching over him and would bring him back safely to the land of his parents.  Yaakov made a vow, "Of all that You will give to me, a tenth I will give back unto You!"

The three prayers we recite each day are attributed to each of the three patriarchs: The morning prayer (Shacharit) to Abraham, the afternoon prayer (Mincha) to Yitzchak and the evening prayer (Maariv) to Yaakov. It is from here that we know that Yaakov established the evening prayer. 

The ladder reaching from earth to heaven, which Yaakov saw in his dream, represents the ladder of prayer, through which a person, standing down below, can reach all the way to heaven.

There is an expression in the Talmud which says, “One who grabs too much at once, will not be able to hold onto it.” The ladder teaches us that spiritual elevation is like climbing a ladder. Going up one step at a time, as long as we are heading upwards, we eventually will reach great heights.

Yaakov made a vow, "Of all that You will give to me, a tenth I will give back unto You!" The Talmud tells that once during a famine year, King Munbaz distributed his own treasures and all the treasures accumulated by his forefathers to feed the poor.  His family and friends complained, "Your forefathers have stored these valuables for many generations, how can you give them away?"

"I too am storing these valuables," replied King Munbaz. "But while my forefathers stored their treasures in this world, I am storing them in the World-to-Come.  My ancestors stored their treasures in a place where hands can steal them; I am storing the treasures where no hand can take them away. My parents stored valuables which didn't produce fruit; I am storing them in a way that they will produce fruits [saving peoples lives]. My parents saved money and I'm saving souls. My parents stored for others while they had no benefit from the valuables they saved, but I, by distributing them to the poor, am saving them for myself by fulfilling a mitzvah."

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY

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