Va-yishlah (Genesis 32:4-36:23)

What’s in a Name?

            This week’s parasha is Va-yishlah. It follows Jacob and his family back to the promised land of Canaan. Jacob, in an event, that I will be dissecting, acquires the name Israel. He also ends the feud with his brother Esau. Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi are forced to retaliate when their only sister Dinah is raped. Jacob’s beloved wife Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin. The parasha ends with the listing of Esau’s descendants.

            The aforementioned renaming of Jacob is found in Genesis 32:25-33 and 35:9-14. Jacob is left by himself one evening while traveling from his uncle Laban’s home. He wrestles with a man all night. Jacob has the upper hand and will not end the fight until the man blesses him. Jacob is told that from now on he will be called Israel because he has striven with beings both divine and human. Later, G-d reiterates that and also reminds him that a nation will descend from him.

            Names are very meaningful. For most parents, a new baby’s name is quite a big deal. Whether it’s after a relative or drawn out of a hat, it will be with them for life. In Jacob’s case it was connected to the fact that he was clutching to Esau’s heel at their birth. This is seen as him trying to “supplant his brother.” (Hosea 12:4) But after Jacob receives his new name, one could consider him reborn as a new man ready to receive his own due and ready to reconcile with his brother. This new name, Israel, is translated as “one who has prevailed with G-d.” What a blessing it is to be the children of Israel; we are descended from greatness. I look at “prevailed with” not from an argumentative or fighting stance but as the fact that we can only prevail with G-d’s help. In our 5773 year history, we have proven that we have that help to persevere and we won’t back down.

Va-yetse' (Gen 28:10-32:3)

Stairway to Heaven

            This week’s parasha, Va-yetse’, follows Jacob’s journey from his parent’s home in Beer-Sheba toward his uncle’s home in Haran. The recount of Jacob’s ladder is found at the beginning of the parasha, Genesis 28:10-22. Jacob stops to sleep for the night, resting his head on a stone. In his dream, he envisions a stairway up to the sky being used by angels of the L-rd. The L-rd stood beside him and told him that he was the G-d of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. He told Jacob that the ground he was laying on would be assigned to him and his offspring whose descendants would be as numerous as the dust of the earth. The people of the earth would bless themselves by his descendants, but most importantly Hashem was with him and would protect him wherever he went and would bring him back to that land.

            Jacob awakens and proclaimed that the L-rd was present in that place and that it was the gateway to Heaven. He sets the stone that he had used for a pillow as a pillar and pours oil on it. He names the site Bethel, or House of G-d. Jacob continues his journey and makes it to Laban’s home. He stays as a worker, eventually marrying Laban’s daughters Leah and Rachel.

            If you’ve read the parasha, you know that a lot happens between Jacob and Laban and between Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. However, I am just focusing on Jacob’s dream. I find dreams interesting, in general. To me, they are an expression of true thoughts and desires. When people want to know your goals and aspirations, they often ask, “What are your dreams?” Jacob’s dream itself is also quite profound. He sees a stairway. You could say life is like a ladder. Your destination may be just out of reach, but if you try to skip the necessary steps, or rungs, to get there, you could find yourself back at the beginning. Life experiences could be seen as the rungs. Good or bad, they make you stronger and more driven to keep climbing. Just like Jacob, our highest goal is the True World, Heaven. Living an obedient and meaningful live will give us the strength to keep climbing.

Toledot (Genesis 25:19-28:9)

What Legacy Will You Leave?

Parasha Toledot invites us into the home of Isaac and Rebekah. Rebekah has given birth to twin sons Esau and Jacob. As the first born of the two, Esau is to have the birthright to Isaac’s blessing. Genesis 25:29-34 tells of Esau’s mistake. He had been out and cam in famished. Jacob had been preparing soup. Jacob would only give it to him in exchange for Esau’s birthright, so Esau swore it to him. Later, Jacob impersonates his brother with his mother’s help to get the vocal blessing from Isaac, who was blind and at the point of death.

Esau made a rash decision that affected his life. There is a reason we are told not to sign legal documents after being under anesthesia. When you are not in your right mind, you cannot think responsibly. Esau stated “I am at the point of death, so of what use is my birthright to me?” (Gen 25:32) Why risk a few moments of pleasure for a regret in tenfold? A translation of the word Toledot is descendants. Esau’s choice greatly affected his future descendants. Think about your future, but also the future of the those that will come after you. Know the life you want to live but more importantly, the life Hashem wants you to lead.

            

Hayyei Sarah (Gen 23:1-25:18)

Quenching A Thirst

           This week’s parasha is Hayyei Sarah, which begins with Sarah’s death at the age of 127. After finding a proper burial site for his wife, Abraham begins the task of finding a wife for Isaac. Chapter 24 covers this and I choose to offer my interpretations on it. Abraham sends his senior servant off to find an eligible woman. The servant was to bring a camel to the well and ask for a sip of water from a maiden. The maiden that offered up water to the camel in addition to the servant was to be selected. The woman who met that qualification was Rebekah, Abraham’s grandniece. Laban, Rebekah’s brother, agreed to the engagement, as it was decreed by the L-rd. Rebekah followed Abraham’s servant back from Nahor and was taken as Isaac’s wife.

            I found the selection process for Isaac’s spouse so profound. She was literally quenching a thirst. Isaac had just lost his mother and needed a woman’s caring heart back in his life. He also had to be fruitful and multiply to carry on the covenant made by Hashem with his father. We should all be blessed to find a partner that satiates our need for love, togetherness, knowledge, but most importantly shares our beliefs, religiously. I also found the use of the camel interesting. Camels are probably your best travel option in a desert. This is because they store up on water. When the camel was offered water by Rebekah, it drank even though it may not have needed it. We can learn from that. We should be the same way with Torah. We may think we are learning enough, making all the right decisions, etc, but there is no such thing as too much Torah. Be like that camel and always take the opportunity to take in more nutrition for your soul.