Wednesday, December 7, 2011

PARSHAH PICKS: Alone Time, A Time to Kill and more... (Vayishlach)

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

ChaBaD?

That through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

Parshah Picks

Kislev 11, 5772 · December 7, 2011

General Overview:

In this week's reading, Vayishlach, Jacob returns to Canaan, but is fearful of his brother Esau. They meet and make peace. Jacob wrestles with an angel, and his name is changed to Israel. Jacob's daughter Dinah is abducted by the prince of Shechem. Shimon and Levi destroy the city of Shechem and liberate Dinah. Rachel dies while giving birth to Jacob's twelfth son, Benjamin. Isaac dies.

This Week's Features

Printable Parshah Magazine

Alone Time

Why We Usher the Shabbat Angels Out

By Elly Krimsky

THE PARSHAH

Vayishlach

Genesis 32:4–36:43

Jacob’s confrontation with Esau, the long journey to Seir, the abduction of Dinah, Reuben’s sin, the eight primordial kings of Edom—and what it all means according to sages and mystics from Moses to today.

COLUMNISTS

A Time to Kill

Simeon and Levi—Paradigms for a Bar Mitzvah Boy?

Why did Shimon and Levi kill the people of Shechem? Were their actions morally justified? Morally imperative? And why do they serve as the prototype for the law of Bar-Mitzvah--the Jewish boy's attainment of maturity and responsibility?

By Mendel Kalmenson

The Smallness of Jacob

Why does success evoke arrogance in some and humility in others?

What is the key to graciously accepting blessings in life while not growing callous because of them? Rabbi Schneur Zalman offers the answer, through a study of the words of Jacob, the archetypal beneficiary.

By Rochel Holzkenner

Gratitude and Humility

The closer G‑d brings us to Him, the more keenly aware of our own utter nothingness that should make us.

By Rabbi Ben A.

FEATURED VIDEO

How To Confront an Adversary

A Taste of Text—Vayishlach

How to react when confronted with an opportunity that may challenge, tempt or oppose your beliefs or goals . . .

By Chana Weisberg

Watch (19:33)

A Kosher Butcher

Practical Parshah—Vayishlach

The story of Jacob’s struggle with an angel provides the source for the prohibition of eating the sciatic nerve of an animal. In this class, other complicated issues involving the preparation of kosher meat are also discussed.

By Mendel Kaplan

Watch (1:04:25)

FEATURED AUDIO CLASSES