Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayishlach
one side of the Yabok ford while, on the other
side, he wrestles with an angel. Though Yakov
wins the wrestling match, he is wounded in the
leg, after which he limps. Chazal say this injury
was a result of leaving his family unaccompanied,
& learn from here that one should escort a
visiting guest when they are departing from the
city (as Avraham also did for the angels). This
is why, in the Egla Arufa story, the leaders err
by not escorting a stranger (who later meets with
harm) on his way out of town. Escorting is an act
of Chesed, part of "V’Ahavta l’Rayecha Kamocha."
We should walk a guest at least 4 amot (6 feet) &
do it with joy rather than tears. If the host or
guest can share a Torah thought as they separate,
that is preferable. "Leych l’shalom ("go towards
peace)," which is what Yitro said to Moshe) is
appropriate, while "Leych b’Shalom" (which David
said to Avshalom at their last, tragic parting, &
which is said at a funeral) is inappropriate.
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
Hosha'ana Rabba FLYDUBAI & HOSHANA RABBA- ANI VAHU HOSHIA NA- I & HIM SAVE US
"Ani vaHu Hoshia Na", "I and Him, Save Us". We don't just pray to Him, but we also pray to and for ourselves that we should emulate and educate our children to have that instinctive altruism with which He created the world. President Trump seemed amused about Yaniv Hayon, our PLUMBER who confidently worked with G-d like Superman (he learned from a pilot on a TV show!) to save 174 lives on the Dubai hijacking, but we in Israel are totally accustomed already 78 years to our plumbers, teachers, garbage-men, rabbis, farmers & doctors being Hashem's shlichim! This is what Zionism is about.
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part I
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Our King on Rosh Hashana, Our Father on Yom Kippur.
Based on Aroch Siach, p. 221 (Rav Shaul Yisraeli)
