YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
That night, Yakov is left alone and wrestles with an angel. Yakov emerges victorious but is left with an injured sinew in his thigh. The angel blesses him with the name "Yisrael," signifying he prevailed against man & angel. Yakov & Esav meet and are reconciled, but Yakov rejects Esav's offer to dwell together.
Shechem, a Canaanite prince, abducts and rapes Dina, Yakov's daughter. Shechem suggests Yakov & family intermarry with them. Yakov's sons feign agreement, but stipulate all males must undergo brit mila. While they're weakened by the brit, Shimon & Levi enter the town and execute all the males.
Hashem appears to Yakov in Bet El and confirms his name Yisrael. Rachel gives birth to Binyamin, the 12th tribe. She dies in childbirth and is buried near Bet Lechem. Yakov builds a monument to her. Yitzchak dies at age 180 and is buried by his sons. The Parsha then lists Esav's lineage.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
