Questions tagged [vayishlach]
The weekly Torah portion of Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43)
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The Ox and The Donkey: Moshiach and Eisav
The Torah tells us in Parshas Vayishlach that Yaakov says:
וַֽיְהִי־לִי֙ שׁ֣וֹר וַחֲמ֔וֹר - I have acquired oxen and asses
There are some commentaries that connect this very specific posuk to ...
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Why is the "eilah" tree so special?
After the battle for Dinah, Yaakov Avinu tells those with him to bury their idols under the "eilah" tree.
Bereishis (35:4) - וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶל־יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הַנֵּכָר אֲשֶׁר ...
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Angelic wrestling and the intergenerational transmission of rights and priestly duties
In Gen. 32:26, during Ya'aqobh's struggle with a malakh (angel/emissary), he is struck. The Ba'al ha-Turim there offers two explanations for the location that the malakh chose to strike his body. The ...
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What does שכם mean
Where does the name שכם come from? What exactly does it mean? I believe that names in the tanach are symbolic of qualities of whoever is that name, so what does שכם mean in relation to the person? ...
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Why weren’t the descendants of Esav or Yishmael also given the Torah alongside the benei Yaakob?
As we all know, Abraham had two descendants, Yishmael and Yitschak. Yitschak also had two descendants, Esav and Yaakob; however only the children of Yaakob were the nation that was chosen for the ...
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Why didn't Esav wait until Yitzchak died to kill Ya'akov? [duplicate]
After Ya'akov got Esav's blessings, Esav says (B'reishis 27:41):
וישטם עשו את יעקב על הברכה אשר ברכו אביו ויאמר עשו בלבו יקרבו ימי אבל אבי ואהרגה את יעקב אחי
And Esav hated Ya'akov due to the ...
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Question about Binyamin being named "Ben Oni" in Vayishlach
Vayishlach (35:18) says that Rachel named Binyamin "Ben-Oni" (according to Rashi "son of my pain"). Is this meant to be suggestive of a double meaning in that Binyamin was actually ...
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Were "pachim ketanim" particularly desirable utensils?
Were "pachim ketanim - small vessels" particularly desirable in the time when we were careful for tumah and taharah as the Gemara Bava Kamma (25b) says they are impervious to tumah of a zav? ...
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Why can't we physically see angels in their material form anymore?
In the Torah, angels seem to appear physically several times. For instance, Jacob, physically I think, wrestles with an angel in Genesis 32:22-32, which indicates a material-physical form as far as I ...
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How does Esau react to Yaakov not coming to Seir (Beraishis 33 (14))?
In Beraishis 33 (14) Yaakov says he will meet up with Esau again in Seir. Rashi points out:
Therefore he did not go to Seir. But when will he go? In the days of
the Messiah.
Is there any comment on ...
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Why is the plural of the verb used in Genesis 35:7?
In Genesis 35:7 it says:
וַיִּ֤בֶן שָׁם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּקְרָא֙ לַמָּק֔וֹם אֵ֖ל בֵּֽית־אֵ֑ל כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם נִגְל֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים בְּבָרְח֖וֹ מִפְּנֵ֥י אָחִֽיו
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים is clearly used in ...
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Are there any midrashim that state Shechem and Dinah were in love or that it was consensual?
It is written in Bereshit that Shechem "defiled" Dinah, and all opinions I've learned agree that it was rape, but are there any that dissent? I wonder if "defiled" could also apply ...
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What is the "heart" of a tree?
Rabbeinu Bechaya (Bereishis 34:1) writes
ועוד ידוע שכל האילנות יש להן לב כשתחתוך אותו אבל אילן זית אין לו לב,
ואולי מפני זה טבע הפרי משכח התלמוד ומטמטם הלב, כמו שהזכירו רבותינו ז"ל
בזית. ...
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Shimon and Levi in Shechem
There is a picture illustrated by a seemingly Orthodox artist depicting Shimon and Levi with their swords drawn and the people of Shechem on their knees with their hands up. Although the shevatim's ...
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Jacob and stone pillars
There are several allusions in the Torah that through divine inspiration the Patriarchs kept it entirely (see Yoma 28b based on Bereishit 26:5 for Abraham and Rashi on Bereishit 32:5 for Jacob). Yet, ...
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Why did Esav nickname his wife Yehudis?
In Breishis 36:2, Rashi says
Oholibamah: She is [identical to] Judith (mentioned above 26:34). He (Esau) nicknamed her Judith (יְהוּדִית) to imply that she denied the validity of idolatry, so that ...
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How angel's strength is determined?
וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר׃
Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. (Gen 32.25)
We already learned that:
Angels ...
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Why Gid-Haneshe is counted as a Mitzvah if it wasn't commanded?
עַל־כֵּן לֹא־יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה אֲשֶׁר עַל־כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי נָגַע בְּכַף־יֶרֶךְ יַעֲקֹב בְּגִיד הַנָּשֶׁה׃
That is why the children of Israel to this ...
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What was the wrestling of Yaakov and "a man" about? [closed]
וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר׃
Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. (Gen 32.25)
What was that "man's" purpose or ...
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Angels saying Shirah before Hashem - "daily" rituals?
Rashi on Gen 32.27
כי עלה השחר. וְצָרִיךְ אֲנִי לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בַּיּוֹם (חולין צ"א):
כי עלה השחר FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, and I have to sing God’s praise at day (Chullin 91b; Genesis Rabbah 78:1).
...
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Inconsistency in Yaakov's presents for his brother Esau
עִזִּים מָאתַיִם וּתְיָשִׁים עֶשְׂרִים
רְחֵלִים מָאתַיִם וְאֵילִים עֶשְׂרִים׃
גְּמַלִּים מֵינִיקוֹת וּבְנֵיהֶם שְׁלֹשִׁים
פָּרוֹת אַרְבָּעִים וּפָרִים עֲשָׂרָה
אֲתֹנֹת עֶשְׂרִים וַעְיָרִם ...
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Forefathers and consumerism - why they had more that they can eat?
Yaakov said (Gen 33.11):
... כִּי־חַנַּנִי אֱלֹהִים וְכִי יֶשׁ־לִי־כֹל ...׃
... for God has favored me and I have everything...
Rashi:
יש לי כל: כָּל סִפּוּקִי; וְעֵשָׂו דִּבֵּר בִּלְשׁוֹן ...
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How Halachic was Yaakov's decision to discriminate between his wives and kids?
וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־הַשְּׁפָח֛וֹת וְאֶת־יַלְדֵיהֶ֖ן רִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה,
וְאֶת־לֵאָ֤ה וִֽילָדֶ֙יהָ֙ אַחֲרֹנִ֔ים,
וְאֶת־רָחֵ֥ל וְאֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף אַחֲרֹנִֽים׃
putting the maids and their children first, Leah ...
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How is it "well-known" that Esav hates Ya'akov?
Rash"i in Breishit 33:4 cites Sifrei, by stating:
הֲלָכָה הִיא בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁעֵשָׂו שׂוֹנֵא לְיַעֲקֹב
It is a well-known halacha that Esav hates Ya'akov
How is this "well-known"? Based on ...
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What's "halachic" about "Esav hates Ya'akov"?
Rash"i in Breishit 33:4 cites Sifrei, by stating:
הֲלָכָה הִיא בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁעֵשָׂו שׂוֹנֵא לְיַעֲקֹב
It is a well-known halacha that Esav hates Ya'akov
I understand that the word "halacha&...
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Is the one who fights with Jacob in Genesis 32: 25-31 a simple emissary of Esau according to a current of Jewish tradition?
I am an Italian noahide.
I read the following words written by an Italian Orthodox Jew about the figure of one who fights with Jacob in Genesis 32: 25-31
This figure is defined by the tradition "...
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Esav "kissed" (vayishakheihu) have dots over this word, is there an explanation? Or is it a scribal error?
In Bereishit 33:4 Esav "kissed" Jacov. In some Torah scrolls the word for kissed (bite) is, "VAYISHAKHEIHU" which has dots over each letter. I have seen some explanations that the dots represent "bite ...
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Does anyone comment on the name Reu'el for Eisav's son?
In Vayishlach (Ber. 36:10) Eisav has a son named Reu'el. While the meanings of/reasons for the names of those in Eisav's line are not provided, it seems to me that this name sticks out because it ...
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Tribes' names with את and without?
"וַתַּהַר לֵאָה וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ רְאוּבֵן"
"וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן ... וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שִׁמְעוֹן"
"וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן ... עַל־כֵּן קָרָא־שְׁמוֹ לֵוִי"
"וַתַּהַר עוֹד ...
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Why does the Torah list all of Esav's Tribes?
What is significance the Torah wants us to learn from the seemingly exhaustive list of Esav's tribes? (The entire chapter Bereishis 36, which is 43 pesukim long)
Note: I heard the Gra says it hints to ...
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Esav Tribal Wives
Most the tribes of Esav do not have wives listed among the husbands, yet we find (Bereishis 36:39)
וַיָּמָת בַּעַל חָנָן בֶּן־עַכְבּוֹר וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו הֲדַר
וְשֵׁם עִירוֹ פָּעוּ וְשֵׁם ...
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Rachel Naming Binyamin
Rachel's final action before leaving this world was to give her son the name Ben Oni (Bereishis 35:18)
וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה וַתִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ בֶּן־אוֹנִי
וְאָבִיו קָרָא־לוֹ ...
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Did the descendants of Esav literally taste soil?
The pasuk in Bereshit says (36:20)
אֵ֤לֶּה בְנֵֽי־שֵׂעִיר֙ הַחֹרִ֔י יֹשְׁבֵ֖י הָאָ֑רֶץ לוֹטָ֥ן וְשׁוֹבָ֖ל וְצִבְע֥וֹן וַעֲנָֽה׃
Chazal explain that they are called the dwellers of the earth because ...
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Eisav's angel fought Yaakov. Why Eisav's angel and not Gavriel?
I saw this dvar torah in a forum.
"וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ" (לב/כה) פירש רש"י ז"ל : "הוא שרו של עשיו"
שואלים: בפסוק הנאמר על יוסף "וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אִישׁ וְהִנֵּה ...
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Did anyone (especially Yaakov) ever find out about the idols?
Rachel took Lavan's terafim and hid them. Yaakov pronounced what some commentators view as a curse on anyone who had them (not just the one with whom they were found, but even if they were not found ...
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make atonement - אכפרה
Shemot 32:30 teaches us that Moshe said to the people: “You have sinned a great sin, and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make atonement for you.”
Bereshit 32:20 Likewise teaches ...
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Your name shall be 'Yisrael', but what does it mean and why so?
In relation to another question of mine I would like to know what the name Yisrael really means.
It literally says Ya'akov is now names Yisrael because he has struggled AND has overcome.
I heard ...
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Won’t let go unless you bless me
In the moment Yaakov is wrestling a adversary he says: ‘לא אשלחך כי אם ברכתני’, I wondered if there are any commentaries which reads this differently.
I noticed that Rabbi Hirsch connects the root ...
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The fear and anxiety of Yaakov before meeting Eisav
Bereshit 32:8:
"וַיִּירָא יַעֲקֹב מְאֹד וַיֵּצֶר לוֹ וַיַּחַץ אֶת־הָעָם אֲשֶׁר־אִתּוֹ וְאֶת־הַצֹּאן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָר וְהַגְּמַלִּים לִשְׁנֵי מַחֲנוֹת׃"
"Jacob was greatly frightened; in ...
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Why is Yaakov’s name changed twice?
In the parasha of Vayishlach Yaakov’s name is changed twice. Both times his new name is Yisrael. He is morphed twice from the ‘One Who Grasps Ankles’ to ‘the One Who Wrestles with G-d.’ The first time ...
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Any connection between Isaiah 40:3 and the story of Ya'akov's name changed to Yisrael?
Regards the name changing from Ya'akov to Yisrael the Kli Yakar states that the name Yisrael comes from the word Yashar El, to be straight with G-d. This transformation is compared to Yeshayahu 40:4 '...
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With what and why did Ya’akov struggle?
Many times I came across teachings which stated that Ya’akov Avinu wrestled (struggled) with what could be described as something representative of Esav (I.e. Edom, Adam); of which it is said it was ...
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Seeing Elohim and live?
Shemot 33:20 teaches us that: ‘One can’t see G-ds face and live, for man shall not see G-d and live‘ (לֹא תוּכַל לִרְאֹת אֶת-פָּנָי: כִּי לֹא-יִרְאַנִי הָאָדָם, וָחָי.).
When Ya’akov named the ...
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The meaning of ירך
I’m unclear as to the meaning of the word ירך that appears in Vayishlach, in 32:26. What’s the precise meaning of ירך often translated as hip, thigh, loin, gird etc. Which body part, bone or muscle is ...
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Source that the word לשמי hints to the changing of Yaakov's name to Yisrael
In Genesis 32:30 after Ya’akov want’s to know the name of which he is wrestling with, the question is asked why he wants to know it’s name: (למה זה תשאל לשמי), I can’t find its source but I heard ...
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Wrestling HaSatan
I know there are many explanations on who Ya’akov wrestled with. But I came across an explanation teaching it was HaSatan he wrestled with. Hoped someone could give me the sources or explanations ...
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Is Asenath, the wife of Joseph, the illegitimate daughter of Dinah?
In Bresheit 34:1-2 "Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had born to Yakov, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country saw her, ...
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When did Eisav find out that Yaakov was still alive?
The pasuk in Bereishis 29:11 says:
וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ וַיֵּֽבְךְּ׃
Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and broke into tears.
Rashi says on that pasuk:
...Another ...
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Esav took his wives from among the girls of Cana'an? (Breishit 36:2)
There appears to be a Torah contradiction regarding the statement that Esav took his wives from among the women in the land of Cana'an as stated in Breishit 36:2.
verse 2 lists Adah, whom Rash"i says ...
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Where in parshas Vayishlach is Jerusalem hinted to?
I heard that Jerusalem is alluded to in parshas Vayishlach. Can anyone help me find out where?
