Vayishlach 5774

E-Parsha NO SIRLOIN?!? Parshas Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10 - 32:3, focuses on the Patriarch Jacob and his pursuit of a family. On the way, he had a dream of a ladder with angels ascending and descending. In his dream, Hashem promised to be with Jacob in his descent to Padam and his ascent back to Canaan and to make him a great nation. Upon awakening, Yaakov made a vow that if Hashem were to take care of him by giving him bread to eat and clothes to wear, then he would accept "Elokim as G'd". Would we have thought of Yaakov - the chosen of the patriarchs (Avrohom, Yitschok and Yaakov are the only patriarchs as they willing surrendered their free choice to promulgate monotheism) would have accepted Hashem based on bread? In addition, the name Elokim is Hashem's expression of strict judgment (Elokim literally means judges). How could Yaakov have expected any signs of compassion from Hashem's expression of strict judgment? On the contrary, the name Hashem is an expression of compassion. Yaakov should have directed his vow towards the name Hashem not Elokim. Elokim is the name that appears during the creation story. Strict judgment does not mean cruelty. It means necessary containment. Hashem desired a world limited to three dimensions. Therefore, it was necessary for Hashem to contain his infinity through strict judgment in order for those limitations to exist. Yaakov's vow can be interpreted as a declarative statement:  If it will be that Hashem's infinite revelation can be contained on my behalf so as to manifest itself even in something simply mundane as bread, not just for me but for all of my progeny until Moshiach's arrival, then I, as a limited creature will be able to relate to Hashem - promulgate his existence - and take on the responsibility of being the chosen people. We are the progeny of Yaakov. We are the recipients of the blessings he received from Hashem. We are also the bearers of his vow to make the world a better place. ----------------------------------------------------- The Making of a chosid            In honor of the birthday, Yahrtzeit and day of liberation of the Mittler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch - second Lubavitcher Rebbe. Once, when Rabbi DovBer was 14, he visited his father-in-law in Yanovitch. There he met one of his father's chasidim. The young man made fun of the chasid as it was known that this chasid was not the smartest but spent inordinately long times davening.  Said the chasid to Rabbi DovBer: "Considering who you are and how you've lived, what's the big deal? Your father -- well, we all know who your father is. You were certainly conceived under the holiest of circumstances, and I'm sure that your father secured a most lofty soul to bring down into the world. Then you were raised in a rebbe's home and great care was taken to mold your character and safeguard you from any negative influences. All your life you've been exposed to scholarship and sanctity, and to this very day you're preoccupied only with the study of Torah and the teachings of Chassidism. So, you've amassed a certain amount of knowledge and you pray with fervor and devotion. Big deal. "Now, take me, for example. My father was a simple man, and we can well imagine what was on his mind when he scraped out some dreg of a soul from the bottom of the barrel. My upbringing? I was raised as a goat and basically left to my own devices and do you know what I do with my life? I loan money to the peasants during the planting season and then, during the winter months, I make my rounds to their villages and farms to collect the debts before they have a chance to squander their entire harvest on vodka. This means setting out several hours before sunrise, well before the permissible time for prayer, equipped with a flask -- for without a drink one cannot begin to talk business with a peasant. After drinking to his health, one must share a l'chaim with the woman in the house as well -- otherwise she can ruin the whole deal for you. Only then can you sit down to settle part of the account. "After three or four such stops I make my way home, immerse myself in the mikveh and prepare for prayer. But after such preliminaries, what sort of prayer would you expect...?" The words of this chassid, who was, in truth, renowned for his refined nature and soulful prayers, made a deep impression on Rabbi DovBer. The young man immediately traveled home to his father and poured out his heart. He bewailed his spiritual state, saying that his service of G'd is worthless, falling so short of what is expected from him. The next time the chasid from Yanovitch came to Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the Rebbe said to him: "I am most grateful to you. You have made a chasid out of my Berl."

By: Rabbi Herschel Finman

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