YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayeshev
Our parasha starts innocuously, with Yaakov back in his father’s land, and, as Rashi (bid. 2) points out, he desired to live in tranquility. Yaakov had gone through enough: fleeing his brother, hard work for and trickery from his father-in-law, danger from the abductors of his daughter. With these external threats over, he hoped for a smooth life. However, rest was not the lot of Yaakov, who, more than any other person, symbolizes the nation that bears his name. At this time, an episode of discord between his sons began to unfold, revealing great difficulties until the end of Sefer Bereishit. This would end with the fulfillment of the prophecy to Avraham: "Your offspring will be strangers in a land not theirs, and they will subjugate and afflict them for 400 years" (ibid. 15:13). Chazal (Bereishit Rabba 4:3) poignantly attached the following pasuk to this idea: "I did not have tranquility, and was not quiet, and I did not rest, and agitation came" (Iyov 3:26). The lack of: tranquility – refers to problems with Eisav; quiet – Lavan; rest – Dina; agitation – Yosef.
Certainly the Divine Hand that decreed exile in Egypt was the deciding factor, but the mechanism through which this all happened is "blamed" by Chazal on Yaakov, for the shortcoming of asking to live in tranquility. People tend to notice the dangers from the outside and ignore those from within, which is a dangerous mistake. Chazal (Bereishit Rabba 4:6) tell us that there were great similarities between the experiences of Yaakov and Yosef, especially that they were both hated by a brother. This teaches us the great danger of hatred, even if one is not an evil person like Eisav but an upstanding one like Yosef’s brothers, who nevertheless had enmity towards their own brother. Had Yaakov been as vigilant with the matter as he was with Lavan, he could have "put out the fire" before it grew out of proportion. The exile decreed upon Avraham needed to transpire somehow, but not in the tragic way it did. It was because Yaakov, hoping for tranquility, lowered his guard.
This is a lesson for all generations. We want a respite from our difficulties and are less vigilant when independent in our own Land. After all that our nation has undergone, in the exile and in Israel, we crave for rest. We have to remember, though, that not only Eisav and Lavan are dangerous. The destructive forces from within are also dangerous. The best chance to merit tranquility is to not ask to for tranquility. We must remain careful and make sure that the independence we merited is used to raise our ethical and spiritual level. Then we can enjoy the fruits of the labor of generations.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
