parshat Vayishlach

According to some opinions, Yaakov may have been guilty of chanufah in his interactions with Eisav in this week’s parsha. What is chanufah and what did Yaakov do?

Some people ask if it is permitted to endanger oneself for the sake of the honor of the People of Israel. It seems from this week's Torah portion that the answer is yes.

With a trembling of happiness and pain, we open this conference with the words of Yaakov Avinu from this week’s parasha – “I am small in relation to all of the kindnesses … now I make up two encampments” (Bereishit 32:11)

In honor of our Matriarch Rachel, about whom we learn in this week's Torah portion of Vayishlah, we present a collection of thoughts on what she stands for, and what all mothers stand for.

The story of Dina is an extraordinary passage. It seems to lack any kind of moral message. No one comes out of it well. What teaching does the Torah want us to draw from this narrative out of which no one emerges well?

We learn that Ya'akov actually sends the angels on a mission! How is it therefore possible that angels could function as the agents of a human being? Angels are not "Children of the covenant!"

The story of Dina is an extraordinary passage. It seems to lack any kind of moral message. No one comes out of it well. What teaching does the Torah want us to draw from this narrative?

The cataclysmic Battle of the Brothers, so feared by a trembling Yakov - who had dreaded this confrontation for 22 long years, since the day he wrested the birthright from his twin Esav – never materialized.