Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah These are the kings who reigned in the land of edom Before any king ruled over the children of israel (Bereishit 36:31)   Before any king ruled – before Moshe ruled over them at the commandment of the Blessed One, as is written "And He commanded him to the Children of Israel" …"  (Sforno, Bereishit ibid. ibid.)   Before any king ruled- Esav's destiny unfolds according to the natural law of causality, according to the law...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah And Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Efrata, which is Bethlehem. And Jacob erected a monument on her grave. And this is the monument of the tomb of Rachel to this day. (Gen. 35:19-20)   And Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Efrata – the Sages interpreted (Breshit Raba 82,9), it is an honor to women for their burial to be in the place where they died, for...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain,  that Jacob's two sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword, and they came upon the city with confidence, and they slew every male. And Hamor and his son Shechem they slew with the edge of the sword, and they took Dinah out of Shechem's house and left. (Bereishit 34:25-26)   Simeon and Levi are brothers; stolen instruments are their...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah I am unworthy of all the kindnesses and from all the truth that You have rendered Your servant, for with my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. (Bereishit 32:11)   for with my staff From here we learn that a person should recall the bad days in tranquil times in order to take notice of his advantage and thank the Holy One, blessed be He for it. That is why...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying: "We came to your brother Esau and moreover he goes forth to meet you and four hundred men are with him. (Bereishit 32:7)   It appears to me in this matter that Esau did not receive the messengers properly and paid them no heed. Perhaps they did not even come before him for he did not at all give permission for them to come before him and speak to...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah JACOB BECAME VERY FRIGHTENED AND WAS DISTRESSED; SO HE DIVIDED THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH HIM AND THE FLOCKS AND THE CATTLE AND THE CAMELS INTO TWO CAMPS… I HAVE BECOME SMALL FROM ALL THE KINDNESSES AND FROM ALL THE TRUTH THAT YOU HAVE RENDERED YOUR SERVANT, FOR WITH MY STAFF I CROSSED THIS JORDAN, AND NOW I HAVE BECOME TWO CAMPS. (Bereishit 32: 8, 11)   Two camps So he divided the people,...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah AND ESAU RAN TOWARD HIM AND EMBRACED HIM, AND HE FELL ON HIS NECK AND KISSED HIM, AND THEY WEPT. AND HE LIFTED HIS EYES AND SAW THE WOMEN AND THE CHILDREN, AND HE SAID, "WHO ARE THESE TO YOU?" AND HE SAID, "THE CHILDREN WITH WHOM GOD HAS FAVORED YOUR SERVANT." AND THE MAIDSERVANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN DREW NEAR AND PROSTRATED THEMSELVES. AND LEAH AND HER CHILDREN DREW NEAR AND PROSTRATED THEMSELVES, AND...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO JACOB, SAYING, "WE CAME TO YOUR BROTHER ESAU; AND MOREOVER HE HIMSELF IS COMING TO MEET YOU, AND THERE ARE FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM." (Bereishit 32:7)   It appears to me in this matter that Esau did not receive the messengers properly and paid them no heed. Perhaps they did not even come before him for he did not at all give permission for them to come before him...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayishlah NOW DINAH, THE DAUGHTER OF LEAH, WHOM SHE HAD BORNE TO JACOB, WENT OUT TO VISIT THE DAUGHTERS OF THE LAND.  (Bereishit 34:1)   Who is Responsible: Dinah, Leah, Jacob or Shekhem son of Hamor? Now Dinah, the daughter of Leah, went out – Read this in the light of what Scripture says: All treasures of the king's daughter's are kept within. (Tehillim 45:14). Rabbi Tossi said: When the woman conceals herself in the...

Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Vayishlah THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO JACOB, SAYING, "WE CAME TO YOUR BROTHER ESAU; HE HIMSELF IS COMING TO YOU, AND THERE ARE FOUR HUNDRED MEN WITH HIM." (Bereishit 32: 7)   Your Brother or Esau? – How Does One Interpret the Other's Intentions in Unclear Circumstances? We came to your brother Esau – of whom you would say, "He is my brother", but he treats you as the evil Esau, still harboring his hate. (Rashi...