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We often think of Esav as a foreigner, a complete stranger to Am Yisrael. But that’s not so; he has the very same holy genes as Yakov, his brother, & Avraham & Sara, his grandparents. So what happened to him? What caused him to fall so far from the royal family tree?
In our parsha, Esav comes into the shiva tent where grandfather Avraham is being mourned. There, Yakov is cooking, & "trades" a bowl of lentil soup for the birthright. Now, most of us have this image of Esav being famished, & ravenously demanding the stew. But – look carefully at the text – nowhere does it say that Esav was hungry! What it does say is "V’Hu Ayef – he was tired!"
Huh?? If he’s tired, then let him go & lie down!
Clearly, Esav is expressing the fact that he is tired of being looked upon as the first-born, the rightful heir to the leadership of the Jewish nation. That title comes with certain very serious rights - and very serious responsibilities: Such as scholarship, integrity, honesty & selfless devotion to the community, rather than to himself. Not exactly the kind of qualities usually ascribed to hunters.
No doubt the family had clearly expressed its expectations that Esav would be a moral role model, & he was simply tired of all that
pressure. And so he opted out, & Yakov.took over.
The "Esav Syndrome," alas, has not disappeared. It is not easy today to maintain one’s Jewishness, when much of the world looks down upon Jews, or denigrates organized religion in general, calling it "archaic," "dogmatic" or "chauvinistic."
It’s also not very easy being supportive of Israel these days, either. Lots of pressure coming at us from every corner to condemn Israel as the aggressor, to see it as the victimizer rather than the victim, to boycott & abandon her.
And so people – many of them good people, who probably wanted to stay strong – get exhausted. They are tired of always being on the defensive, tired of being in the minority & swimming against the tide. And so, like Esav, they give up fighting the good fight & choose the path of least resistance; they opt for capitulation rather than courage.
But, Baruch Hashem, we have our antidotes to Esav. They are the Yakovs of the nation, who do not give up, who face adversity after adversity, who keep getting knocked down but always get up again. They are determined never to get tired, never to give up or give in, but to go the distance until the final bell - of Moshiach.
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
