Vayishlach tells the story of the meeting between Jacob and Esau, after an estrangement that lasted twenty-two years. Hearing that his brother is coming to meet him with a force of four hundred men, Jacob is “greatly afraid and distressed.” He takes three defensive actions: he divides his camp into two, sends gifts to Esau, and prays. That night he…
The Summary This summary is adapted from this week’s main Covenant & Conversation essay by Rabbi Sacks. Parshat Vayishlach contains a shocking incident. Dina, Yaakov’s daughter, is abducted and raped by Shechem, the son of the local town’s ruler. Her brothers are incensed and demand justice. Shechem then asks for permission to marry Dina and in an act of subterfuge,…
It is one of the most enigmatic episodes in the Torah, but also one of the most important, because it was the moment that gave the Jewish people its name: Israel, one who “wrestles with God and with men and prevails” (Gen. 32:29). Jacob, hearing that his brother Esau is coming to meet him with a force of four hundred…
…download here. A Closer Look Delving deeper into the thoughts shared by Rabbi Sacks on Vayishlach, Rabbi Solomon nows hares his own reflections on the main piece. What inspiration did you find when reading ‘Feeling the Fear’? There are those who think that we are only given ‘one shot’ at realising our Divinely-given mission. However, what Rabbi Sacks teaches us…
By any standards it was a shocking episode. Jacob had settled on the outskirts of the town of Shechem, ruled by Hamor. Dina, Jacob’s daughter, goes out to see the town. Shechem, Hamor’s son, sees her, abducts and rapes her, and then falls in love with her and wants to marry her. He begs his father, “Take this girl as…
In a Nutshell Parshat Vayishlach tells the story of the meeting between Yaakov and Eisav after twenty-two years of separation. Hearing that his brother is coming to meet him with a small army of four hundred men, Yaakov is “greatly afraid and distressed.” He creates a three–stage strategy: first he divides his camp into two, then he sends gifts to…
…not, understanding that it is better to seek the respect of some than the popularity of all. This may involve a lifetime of struggle, but the outcome is an immense strength. No one is stronger than one who knows who and what they are. [1] Bereishit Rabbah, 77; Rashi to Genesis 32:35; Zohar I, Vayishlach, 170a. [2] Rene Girard, Violence and…
…the Drama of Reading. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1985. 444-81. [6] Elhanan Samet, Iyyunim be-Parshat ha-Shavuah, third series, Israel: Yediot Aharonot, 2012, 149-171. [7] Andrew Bard Schmookler, The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution. Berkeley: U of California, 1984. [8] Ibid., 21. [9] Ibid., 22. [10] Quoted by Rashi ad loc. [11] Schmookler, ibid., 22. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR VAYISHLACH Do you see any innocent parties in…
…occurrences are: 1. When Eisav threw his arms around Yaacov’s neck in Vayishlach (see Bereishit 33:4). 2. When Yosef and Binyamin fell on each other’s shoulders when they were finally reunited in this week’s parsha (Bereishit 45:14). 3. When Yosef threw his arms around his father Yaacov’s neck and wept on his shoulder during their emotional reunion – which occurs…
…the lines to see how the tensions in relationships in the Torah were resolved, but the stories in the Torah always have deep and profound lessons for our own lives if we are open to them. I hope that helps somewhat to answer your question. Question from Tsofia, aged 9 from London, UK: In parshat Vayishlach, if Yaacov believed in Hashem…