Torah: Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3) Haftarah: (Hosea 12:13-14:10)
Praying everyone had A Happy Thanksgiving.
The Torah Summary in a nutshell.
Jacob’s heavenly ladder dream. Jacob becomes a member of Laban’s family. Jacob marries Leah, and works another seven more years in order to acquire Rachel for a wife. Jacob’s flight from Laban.
The dream of the ladder had angels going up from the earth and new angels coming down to earth. Hmmm, one would think the angels come down from the heavens and then return from visiting earth. Jacob’s angels on earth stayed with him all week long, and on the Sabbath the angels from the heavens came down to stay with Jacob until Havdalah.
Now the reason Jacob had two wives. Jacob loved Rachel who was the younger sister of Leah. In ancient times the older daughter was married first, and then the younger daughters would marry. Do you know why at a Jewish wedding the bridegroom lifts the veil of the bride? It is so it is the woman the bridegroom intends to marry. Jacob did not lift up the veil. Also, Rachel knew her sister was the intended bride, and she even answered when Jacob spoke to Leah from the other side of the tent. (love and honor of siblings) If one read the Torah of the trick played by Jacob on his father, this was justice served.
Today, we may see a lot of hatred between groups of people. This was one of the concepts in the Torah portion called, “ Sinnat Chinam/causeless hatred). Hatred without cause between individuals and nations is exemplified by Esau’s hatred for his brother Jacob, and later by the hostility shown by the Edomites for the people of Israel. According to the sages, the Messianic era can only begin when causeless hatred has vanished from the earth. Years ago the sages wrote:” What is hateful to you, do not do to others” (Talmud Shabbat 31a). They also said that, “hatred without cause is as wicked as idolatry, adultery, and murder combined” (Talmud Yoma 9).
Today, some individuals are ignorant of the history of the Middle East and Israel. The horrific attack of October 7 by Hamas was during a CEASE/Truce of Peace. In 2005 until October 7, 2023 the Gaza Strip was ruled by first Fatah until Hamas took over ruling in 2007. ALL JEWS LEFT! No occupation of Israelis and Israel did not rule the “Palestinains”/GAZANS). This weekend there may be an exchange for the hostages.
We pray this comes and more of the hostages will be released and return home.
Please continue to light the extra Shabbat candle for the Israeli people.
We pray peace will be obtained and evil will be destroyed forever.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
