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Overview of the Weekly
Reading: Vayishlach
To be read on 16Kislev
5766 (Dec.17)
Torah: Genesis 32:4-36:43; Haftorah: Book of
Obadia (who was an Edomite convert!)
Vayishlach is the 8th Reading out of 12 in Genesis
and 8th overall, and 11th out of 54 in overall
length.
Yaacov sent messengers
to Eisav, informing him of his return. Eisav came to meet Yaacov, along
with 400 men. Yaacov divided his people into two camps, so that should
Eisav attack, at least one camp would survive. Yaacov sent gifts for
Eisav. He then sent his wives, children and possessions across the Jabbok
River. During the night Yaacov wrestled with an angel, who could not
defeat him, so he touched Yaacov on the thigh, dislocating his hip.
At dawn, the angel blessed Yaacov, and changed his name to Yisrael.
Yaacov met with Eisav in reconciliation. Eisav went to Seir. Yaacov
separated from him and went to Shechem, where he purchased Kever Yosef.
Yaacov's daughter, Dina, was forcefully taken by Shechem, who wanted
to marry her. Yaacov, and Dina's brothers said they would permit the
union only if Shechem, along with every other male, would circumcise
himself. On the third day after their circumcision, when they were all
suffering, Shimon and Levi killed all the men and returned with Dina.
They left for Beth El, where Yaacov set up an altar to G-d. Rachel died
in childbirth on the road. Yitzchak died at the age of 180. The parsha
ends with the chronicles the family of Eisav, and the kings of Edom.
FROM THE MASTERS OF
KABBALA (K:0866/Vayishlach)
From the holy
Zohar, teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
(Z:0866/Vayishlach)
Rabbi Yehudah asked: What was Jacob's intention in sending messengers
to inform Esau that he had been living with Laban? What did he achieve
by telling him this? However, Laban's [infamous] reputation had spread
far and wide. [It was known] that not one person [against whom he had
a vendetta] had escaped him, for Laban was a powerful sorcerer. He was
the father of Beor (see Sanhedrin 105a; Bamidbar Rabba, Balak), who was
the father of Bilaam, about whom it is written, "Bilaam the son of
Beor, the sorcerer" (Joshua 13:22), but he outstripped them all in
his knowledge of sorcery and black magic.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From the holy Ari,
Rabbi Yitzchak Luria of Safed (A:0866/Vayishlach)
The first king [Bela ben Be'or] personified daat, which [issues
forth] after bina. Opposite [daat, in the realm of evil], issued [the
gentile prophet] Balaam ben Be'or. [As the Sages state, it is written
in the Torah that] "There arose no prophet in Israel like Moses"
(Deut. 34:10), but amongst the gentiles there did arise such a prophet,
namely Balaam ( Bereishit Rabbah 14:2). Just as Moses personified daat
on the side of holiness, so did Balaam [personify daat] on the side of
evil, inasmuch as he personified strict judgment.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
* * * * *
From Rabbi Moshe Alshich
(S0866/Vayishlach)
Seeing that, theoretically, the source of the blessing could be
[the angel] Samael, a spiritually negative force, he did not want to be
the recipient of a blessing from that source at all. He was only interested
in confirming blessings already received from divinely inspired sources.
For the full article, click to the "Weekly Torah" section on
our KabbalaOnline
site.
FROM THE CHASSIDIC
REBBES (V0866/Vayishlach)
"He took from what came to his hand...a present for Esau his
brother." (32:14)
The words "what came to his hand" seem unnecessary. When Jacob
began to prepare the animals as gifts for his brother, the animals were
reluctant to be given to Esau, an idol-worshipper. Jacob had to take
them with his hand and persuade them to go.
(Beit Yakov)
"If you will become as we are, that every male of you be circumcised."
(34:15)
Why did the sons of Jacob, who were physically strong and powerful,
avenge what happened to their sister Dina in such a "sneaky"
way? Why did they insist that the people of Shechem be circumcised?
Had Jacob's sons attacked them as they were, the world would have reacted
with an uproar. Once the people of Shechem nominally identified themselves
as Jews, however, they could be killed with impunity. For surely no
one would protest the killing of Jews...
(Rabbi Yehonatan Eibeshutz)
A
MYSTICAL CHASSIDIC DISCOURSE
from the Chabad
Master series, produced by Rabbi Yosef Marcus for
www.ascentofsafed.com and www.kabbalaonline.org
MOSHIACH THIS WEEK
(M:0866/Vayishlach)
"These are the names of the chieftains [that came] of Esau,
chieftain Magdiel, chieftain Iram; these are the chieftains of Esau.."
(Gen. 36:40-43).
The present exile is referred to as "Galut Edom - the Edomite
Exile," because the Romans - who brought about the present exile
with their destruction of the Holy Temple - were mostly descendants of
Edom. This exile is generally divided into two eras, governed by two kinds
of chieftains-leaders, as mentioned in the verse cited:
The first is "Chieftain Magdiel." This name signifies, and is
an expression of, "he magnified himself (yitgadel) above every
god" (Daniel 11:36). In this first era of the Edomite exile, the
Roman Empire expanded throughout the world, seeking to overpower Judaism
and to make it difficult for Jews to observe Torah and mitzvot.
The second one is "Chieftain Iram." This name, the Midrash notes,
is an expression of "he is destined to amass (le'erom) treasures
for the royal Moshiach." This refers to the second era of the Edomite
exile, the one close to the Messianic days. In that time Rome will cease
to subdue Israel and will itself submit to holiness. Moreover, it will
even assist Moshiach. Rome will be transformed to realize the sacred meaning
of its name: Romi as an expression of hitromemut - exaltation,
i.e., the exaltation of holiness.
[Reprinted with permission from L'Chaim Magazine (www.lchaim.org).]
An
essay from Rabbi Shaul Yosef Leiter, director of Ascent
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here) (W:0866/Vayishlach)
For the last 150 years there has been a move towards the nuclear
family. Small family units replace the extended family of grandparents,
parents, children grandchildren, cousins, and more. Often, people today
lack community of any kind. Superficial relationships with work colleagues
and neighbors replace community-oriented life, where a person's presence
(or absence) in synagogue, one's health, well-being, etc. were noticed
and dealt with. Rebbe Michil gives a very interesting insight on community
life and how we can benefit from it.
Torah is not just a bunch of stories, but rather eternal lessons. One
thing we learn from the story of Jacob and Esau is that a person must
always be humble, because by being humble we will be liked by our neighbors.
This is spelled out clearly in Orchot Tzadikim, one of the classic
books of Jewish ethics, in "The Gateway of Will": '"When
a person likes his peers and is liked by them, the Almighty likes him"
(Avot 5:10), and even his enemies complete him (rather than deplete him),
as it is written, 'When a person's ways are accepted by G-d, even his
enemies will compliment him' (Proverbs16:7). Therefore, it is very important
that when a person finds he has enemies, he should take it as a reflection
of his own behavior. He must immediately look into his own deeds and return
to G-d".
The simple reasoning here is that, in the spiritual dimension, when a
person sins he gives strength to the negative spiritual forces, which
in turn share this strength with his enemies. The way to fix this is to
do the opposite and give strength to the positive side. This depletes
the strength of our enemies!
This is what the verses in our Torah portion refer to, that in preparing
to meet Esau, Jacob "…went before them [his wives and children]"
(Gen. 33:4-5). Even though Jacob's family was holy and attached to holiness,
he was on a higher level. How do we know this? Because he immediately
identified the inner meaning of having an enemy in his brother: that he
must examine his own actions and perfect himself. This caused him to go
to an even higher spiritual level.
What caused Jacob to do this? He perceived Esau as a righteous person
who was angry with him! "There must be some problematic issue within
me," Jacob said to himself. Therefore, to open the discussion, he
bowed seven times, indicating that he lowered himself seven levels to
communicate with Esau in an appropriate way. When Jacob fully transformed
himself, then the verse says, "…and Esau ran to meet him".
Esau was transformed into a friend and companion, rather than a bitter
enemy.
By responding with self-examination and repentance to the negative aspects
in our lives, and thereby increasing the peace in our homes and workplaces,
we will impact our lives for the better in obvious ways, and simultaneously
weaken the power of those who seek our harm, G-d forbid. May we merit
the ultimate peace on the personal and universal scope with the Final
Redemption, now.
Shabbat Shalom - Shaul
P.S. Please also read my weekly Shabbat Law, below.)
(for a free weekly email subscription, click
here)
For all our insights for this parsha:
from four years ago
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