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Beit Midrash
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- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayetze
In the beginning of our parasha, it says that Yaakov was pogei’ah in a holy place, where he had his famous dream about angels on a ladder (Bereishit 28:10-12). Our parasha ends with Yaakov being pogei’ah with malachim of Hashem and calling the meeting place Machanayim because it was an encampment of godly beings (ibid. 32:2-3). We have discussed in the past that angels accompanied Yaakov wherever he went.
We have also mentioned the machloket on whether angels are wondrous creatures or whether they are just emissaries of Hashem’s "natural world." Depending on our approach to the matter, we will explain differently what pegi’ah is. One opinion in Chazal (see Berachot 26b) is that pegi’ah is prayer, and Yaakov’s first pegi’ah is connected to his institution of Ma’ariv (the evening prayer). The other opinion says that it means to meet up with something, a language that Chazal often use (see for example Kalla Rabbati 5:9).
We want to offer an explanation of the word malach according to the approach that we are to view malachim as natural parts of the world. Malach means someone who carries out a task of a variety of types. One of the overarching themes of Parashat Vayeitzei is that while it seems as if Yaakov was a dedicated worker for Lavan, in fact the same things that he did made him a "servant of Hashem," i.e., a malach.
Yaakov teaches us important lessons as a role model for life. He recognized the good he received and worked with integrity and dedication for the person who provided his livelihood. Service of Hashem is predicated on the idea that when we do work in this world, it is as malachim of Hashem. As long as working for Lavan did not conflict with serving Hashem, Yaakov did so with great dedication and toil. As soon as Hashem told him that it was time to leave Lavan and return home (see Bereishit 31:4), Yaakov included his wives in the vision of malachim that he saw (ibid. 11) and returned home. Along the way, he returned to Beit El, where he had seen the malachim, and resumed his own mission as a human malach.
The last words of the parasha provide an indication that our approach is true. Yaakov met angels in Machanayim. These were the same angels that he saw on the ladder. Yaakov deserved this because he spent his days and nights as a malach, making sure that whatever jobs he did, it was an act of serving Hashem. (Next week we will see what David did in Machanayim.)
May we succeed, so that the work we do in this world in a proper manner will make us worthy of being called malachim.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
