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
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Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
