Vayishlach

                                               Instructions on how to win the lottery 

At the start of this week’s Parshah Jacob is concerned about an upcoming reunion with his brother Esav who wanted to murder him the last time they met. The Ramban states this Parshah gives us the template for political science. We should make diplomatic attempts (Jacob sends gifts), we should prepare our camp for war (Jacob splits his camp in two) and we should pray (Jacob exhorts G-D for help).

Why does Jacob have to do all this preparation if G-D can help him? Doesn’t this show a lack of faith that his prayer will be answered?

“G-D helps those who help themselves”- Benjamin Franklin

“ You can’t rely on G-D for anything, he practically told me so himself”- Bender

Success in this world is like sailing.

If we put up our sails, (representing our personal effort in this world) and there is no wind (representing Divine assistance) we will not move. No matter what we do G-D must assist us or our efforts will not get off the ground. However if we do not put up our sails, no matter how much wind we get the boat will only move slightly because we have not created a vessel, or receptacle to harness G-D's blessing.

Faith in G-D is not a big deal She is all powerful. Faith in yourself, that is something amazing.

In order to win the lottery you have to buy a ticket.

Vayezeh

It is always darkest before dawn.   1. Jacob is fleeing for his life at the start of the Parshah. He had to separate from his family and was forced to travel to the outside world and make a living. 2. Why must Jacob leave his comfort zone and get involved in the world? Why can't he sit and learn all day? 3. The lives of the forefathers mirror the lives of their descendants. The Jews were forced to leave their homeland and go down to Egypt, just as Jacob was forced to leave his homeland. So to throughout history the Jews are forced to leave the land they call home and travel to foreign lands.    3 The Kriyas Yam Suf Effect: After the Jews left Egypt, the Egyptian army began to chase them and trapped them against the Yam Suf (Sea) . The Jews  were extremely frightened.  The sea split and the Jews crossed on dry land. The Egyptians followed them in and were destroyed by the returning water. The situation shifted very quickly because the Egyptians were wiped out at the sea, the Jews never had to worry about the Egyptians trying to sneak up behind them. Being "trapped" at the sea, the very problem they faced was what caused them to defeat the Egyptians. When  the Jews saw the Egyptian charriots coming for them this was  the best possible scenario, the Jews just did not know it yet. The Kriyas Yam Suf effect is found throughout Judaism. 3. To put it a different way, a descent for the purpose of ascent. Before the soul comes to earth it does not want to leave the heavens but it is commanded to. The soul is sent to earth (which is a descent) in the hopes that it can sanctify the physical world and create an ascent not only for the soul but for the world and the body as well. 3.In the Torah, Avraham must travel to Egypt because of a famine and he returns wealthy as a result of his descent . Yosef is sent down to Egypt against his will and ends up saving not only his brothers and entire family but he preserves all of Egyptian civilization. The holidays of Purim and the upcoming Chanukah only exist because the Jews faced annihilation and in place of destruction, creation. Two more holidays for the Jewish people were created, not because of the Torah but because of non-Jews. Some say the Haftorah is read because reading the Torah was outlawed. Now we read both Torah and Haftorah. An attempt to limit the Torah led to an increase in reading the Torah. 4. In 1985 Steve Jobs was basically forced out of Apple, a company he personally cofounded in his parent's garage. When he was fired he had more time to work on other projects. One of those was  pixar (Toy Story) which is arguably one of the most successful movie studios in history, releasing over 13 consecutive blockbusters. Every film they released grossed over 100 million and they have earned 26 academy awards. He also developed his NextStep platform which would later become the operating system for Mac. When he returned to Apple he brought the company from near bankruptcy to becoming the most valuable company in the world. Many consider this the greatest turnaround in business history.   4. The reason Jacob and Jobs  could not stay at home was they would not reach their full potential.The purpose of the Torah and Mitzvot (commandments) is for our soul to self actualize, within the body and the physical world in order for all three to reach their full potential.     4. How we react to adversity and struggle helps us reach our full potential. The lesson of the Kriyas Yam Suf effect is when we are faced with challenges, we should not  become despondent or depressed. Being involved in the world by definition means we will face struggle and opposition. We need to have the foresight to understand  that what we perceive as a descent is only temporary and is for the purpose of ascent. This attitude is fundamental to Jacob and the Jewish peoples survival.       If it did not get dark, we could not see the stars shine. Its always darkest before dawn,, thats why you got to let your soul shine, shine untill the light of day.

Toldot

                         Were in this together now, nobody can stop us now

1. This week's parshah Rebbeca was told a prophecy about her twins, Jacob and Esav. She was told  "Two nations are inside your womb... and one regime shall become strong from the other regime and the elder shall serve the younger."  Zicharyah Grosser explains that this concept of opposing forces is known as binary opposition and it is a central theme found throughout Judaism. An illustration of this concept is the ying/yang symbol. 

1.It seems as though Esav was treated unfairly. Before he was born he was predestined to be ruled. He was born red and hairy and his inherent nature was to be a hunter, out in the field. None of this was his choice.

2. Why is Esav portrayed as evil? He was cast as the villain before he was born.  Based on the text he sold the birthright under duress. Jacob deceived his father in order to get the blessings and then Esav wanted to kill him and a rift was created. This does not seem fair. Esav was set up to fail.

3. "Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism (Fate) the way you play it is free will" - Jawaharlal Nehru

3.Esav and Jacob were born with a specific nature, we all are. At a young age the brothers' personalities started to emerge. Esav was a man of the field, a lone hunter and Jacob was a wholesome man who sat in tents. His attribute was truth.

In Sun Tzu's seminal work "The Art of War", the author states that you must know your enemy.  Who is your greatest enemy? Yourself. To achieve success you must know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses and what your nature is, what you are capable of.

Growth is going beyond yourself, pushing yourself beyond your perceived boundaries and limits. Sometimes we can only achieve this by transcending our inherent nature.  Thomas Jefferson literally pushed the U.S. and himself beyond its boundaries when he agreed to the Louisiana purchase.

Jefferson was a strict constitutionalist and did not have explicit permission to expand the country.  He stepped outside his comfort zone and doubled the size of the country. The deal involved all or part of 15 states and was a massive win-fall for the U.S.

4. Jacob had to lie for truth. He was a man of truth but he was forced to deceive his father. Just as Abraham's attribute was kindness and his final test was to sacrifice his son. Paradoxically in order to self actualize we must transcend our self, go against our very nature.

When the prophet Samuel was told to anoint David as king he was concerned. David had red hair like Esav and several similar character traits.  David however was able to harness his energy and use it for good. He fought the wars of G-D and expanded the territory of Israel, he also established Jerusalem. The Vilna Gaon speaks about utilizing different character traits for good. For example if someone is bloodthirsty they should become a ritual slaughterer or someone who performs circumcisions.

Some of Jacob's children also fought amongst themselves, but not all of them.  Yisachar and Zevulin formed a successful partnership. Each had a different nature and worked together to form a mutually beneficial relationship. One reason why Esav is considered evil is not because of his inherent nature, but because he missed out on an opportunity for greatness. He did not bring unity to the world he brought divisiveness.

Esav missed out on the blessings but he also missed out on something far greater then that, he missed out on the opportunity for a great partnership. His opportunity for growth was to go beyond his personality of a lone hunter and form an alliance with Jacob. When we analyze the text of the prophecy regarding the brothers it states that one will get strength from the other, Sun Tzu states that the source of strength is unity.

The story comes full circle in Parshat Vayechi when Jacob gives his blessings to his grandchildren. Jacob switches his hands and gives the younger son the right hand and the stronger blessing. Joseph interjects and tries to correct his father. The very situation that started Jacob's trouble in life was recreated, but with a different ending this time. The Grandsons never say a word to Jacob or to each other. There is no quarreling or bickering and this is the greatest blessing, peace and unity.

Unity can only be manifested by the binary. Unity itself and the idea of unity are already two.- Buddha

Chayeh Sarah

                                        All you need is love

1.My wife is amazing. She brought me to Israel for the first time this summer. We were in Jerusalem and I wanted to learn Torah in the old city, so she very patiently waited with Jacob our 1 year old son outside the classroom. The class was on this week’s Parsha.

1.The question of the class was, what is the most important decision of your life? It was the first time the Rabbi ever taught the class and it was the first piece of Torah I ever learned in Israel.

He stated that who you marry, your spouse, was the most important choice you make in your life. His source was this week’s Parsha and the process of Abraham getting Rebeca as a wife for Isaac. My source was my wife.

1.The Talmud in Kedushin discuses the legal process of acquiring a wife. It uses a story from this week’s Parsha but not the romantic tale of Isaac and Rebecca . The Talmud cites the story of Abraham purchasing a burial plot for his deceased wife Sarah.

2.Why is this incident chosen?  It is a cold transaction. Abraham transacting a business deal does not seem connected to marriage.

3. Rabbi Harry Rosenberg proposes an interesting answer. We must look at the mindset of each person in the transaction to understand why this story is used as an example. Abraham was an intensely spiritual man, constantly peering at eternity. Ephron was a materialistic, this worldly man with a short term perspective.

4. Ephron sold a meaningless piece of a field for a large amount of silver. Abraham bought one of the holiest locations in the universe for all time. Each left the deal feeling as though they ripped the other one off. That is why this story is perfect for a marriage. When I got married I was thinking " I can’t believe she wants to marry me".  Each person needs to feel like the marriage is a great deal for them. No one is perfect, but my wife is perfect for me.  

Vayerah

The stuff you own, ends up owning you.

Moses Montefiore was asked to give an accounting of all his wealth. When he gave the figure it was much lower than what was expected. When questioned about it, he stated it was the amount he had given to charity. His other possessions could be taken from him but his charity was his permanently. We only have what we give away. The paradox of possession.

Attachment to material possessions weakens the soul. The Torah teaches that we are mere custodians of our possessions to actualize their spiritual potential. We are not supposed to see acquiring stuff as the end goal of life, only the means through which we can achieve our goals. Possessions are temporary, kindness is permanent.

My sister would always bring Kugel to an elderly neighbor before shabbos. Several years later, the neighbor became senile and could not remember her name or her husband. However whenever I mentioned my sister her eyes would light up and she would say enthusiastically " Tell her thank you for all the kugels, they were great, she is a great girl!!"  

This week a lot of peoples stuff got ruined. My parents’ house was flooded and thank God they were ok. In the basement was my brothers beautiful set of Shas which was completely destroyed.  Except of course for the seforim he lent out to other people.  That is all he has left of his collection, what he gave away.

In this week’s parshah Abraham faces his most difficult test. He is asked to place his beloved son Issac on an alter. This test was the reason he is the Father of the Jewish people. He was able to abrogate his love for his son and his physical attachment to him in order to do God’s will. Because he was going to give away his only son, he deserved to be the father of all the Jewish people and have millions of children

I hope everyone and their families are O.K. and can use the storm as a means of getting perspective on what is permanent and eternal and what can be washed away.

Shabbat Shalom,
Daniel