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5765 Volume XII Number 10 Vayeitzei 5765 Volume XII Number 10 Toras Aish Thoughts From Across the Torah Spectrum "Sturm und Drang" of a difficult day. RABBI SHLOMO RISKIN Jacob is the patriarch of the night. Indeed, his Shabbat Shalom many adventures, from the time he leaves his father's house in Israel to his successful encounter with an nd he confronted the place and spent the night anonymous assailant (the spirit of Esau according to there, since the sun had set.." our Sages) some two decades later on his way back “A Why is father Jacob known as the home, is Biblically portrayed as having taken place in "most chosen of the patriarchs," the most worthy of the span of a night: Jacob's dream as he sets forth into emulation from among the very paragons and path- exile comes to him as he "confronted the place and breakers of our faith? After all, it was Abraham who was spent the night there since the sun had set" (Genesis actually the one who himself discovered the G-d of 28:11), and after he successfully wrestles with a "man" justice and compassion, and it was Isaac who walked all night until the rising of the morning star, The Bible the walk of self-sacrifice and commitment unto death for testifies that "the sun rose for him when he passed the sake of heaven. So why do our Talmudic Sages Penuel" (Genesis 32:32). The midrash intensifies single out Jacob for highest accolade? Jacob's identification with night by stressing that G-d I believe the beginning of our analysis can be interfered with nature and made the sun set earlier in found in another teaching of the Rabbis of the Talmud: the first instance and rise earlier in the latter instance "Our patriarchs initiated the daily prayers: (Rashi, 32:32). Jacob dreamed in Bet-El at sunset, and Abraham enacted the morning prayer, passed Penuel at sunrise. (Shaharit) Isaac the afternoon prayer, (Minhah) and What is the symbolism of night? Night is a Jacob the evening prayer...(Arvit)" (B.T. Berakhot 28b). black, bleak awesome and frightening period of the day; I would suggest that each of these prayers, and it is a time of unseen obstacles, fearful nightmares— especially the time when they are to be recited, and it is therefore identified with tragedy and exile. From encapsulate the essence—the seminal definition— of this perspective, Jacob is the patriarch of night: he was each of their composers. hounded by Esau, deceived by Laban, bereft of a Abraham symbolizes the dawn, the beginning beloved wife and favored son for much of his adult life, of a new era, the optimism of a rising sun. After all, did and forced to spend many of his years—including his not Abraham initiate an entirely novel picture of the last ones—in exile from his homeland, Israel. universe with his discovery of ethical monotheism, a Night is also the dark and frightening aspect of faith ideal which gave rise not only to Judaism but also one's personality; the id, or the evil instinct, is the to Christianity and Islam! And Abraham's success in difficult and often uncontrolled "negative side" (sitra winning so many adherents to his new faith as well as ahara), which lurks in the heart of every individual ready his financial accomplishments and military prowess to lunge forward and overtake one's being. In this make for an optimistic personality whose faith in G-d respect as well Jacob had to confront the Esau within has enabled him to believe in himself and in his future. himself, the part of him which was very different from Isaac is more the pensive, withdrawn and the "whole-hearted person who dwelt in tents of study," peacefully passive stalwart, who submits to Avimelekh's the deceiving schemer who yearned for the birthright, treacherous deceit in silence, who courageously the blessings and patriarchal acceptance at any and all accompanies his father to his binding on the altar and cost. who is bonded to the land of Israel with a profound love Indeed, Jacob confronted the night: the night and commitment. His personality is much more akin to without and the night within, the objective challenges the stillness of the twilight, poignantly reposed after the and tragedies which are part and parcel of an unredeemed world as well as the subjective temptations Win a TRIP TO ISRAEL with and seductions which are part and parcel of an FIVE-STAR accomodations unredeemed soul—or rather of a soul-in-progress. and support Toras Aish in the process! Jacob confronted the night—and Jacob overcame the Please email [email protected] obstacles! The Almighty Himself testifies to his victory or call 973-472-0180 bestowing upon him a new name, Yisrael, "because you for more information 2 Toras Aish sadness for his prophetic abilities made him realize that he would not be buried with his beloved Rachel. Rachel was buried in Bethlehem. According to TORAS AISH IS A WEEKLY PARSHA NEWSLETTER the Midrash, she was buried there so that when the DISTRIBUTED VIA EMAIL AND THE WORLD WIDE WEB. Jews would pass by after the destruction of the Temple SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR MORE they would pray at Rachel's grave. There, Rachel would INFORMATION EMAIL [email protected] intervene on behalf of her people. It seems then that COPIES OF TORAS AISH ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE Ya'akov's tears may be echoes of the tears to be shed FOLLOWING ADDRESS ON THE WEB (WWW) : by am Yisrael when they would be exiled. Similar tears HTTP://AISHDAS.ORG are shed today, as Jews are being denied the right to The material presented in this publication was collected from pray at Rachel's grave. publicly available electronic mail, computer archives and the Another thought comes to mind. It is possible UseNet. It is being presented with the permission of the respective that Ya'akov's love for Rachel was already so deep that authors. Toras Aish is solely the work of the AishDas Society, and does not necessarily reflect the views of any given synagogue. he became anxious. Sometimes one's love for another is so profound that fear builds up that the love would TO DEDICATE THIS NEWSLETTER PLEASE CALL eventually be lost. Built into love is the reality that every 973-472-0180 OR EMAIL [email protected] love relationship must terminate, for death comes to all of us. The greater the love, the greater the pain when it terminates. Hence Jacob cries. His love for Rachel is so great that he is overcome for he knows it will end and have fought with powers (elohim) and with individuals, the pain was unbearable. and you have overcome" (Genesis 32:29). Here may lie a reason why we break the glass Jacob is the one patriarch who confronts the under the chupah. We do so of course to remember the various dreams roundabout, rises falls and rises again Temple destroyed. But we also do so to remind bride just as do the ascending and descending angels in his and groom that nothing lasts forever. In the end even initial dream at Bet-El, but eventually succeeds in the greatest of marriages are fragile and will end. emerging triumphant and whole. It is in this spirit that he Strange as it may seem, death has echoes in bestows the ultimate blessing upon his grandchildren: the wedding ceremony. In fact, juxtaposed to the "May the Lord.. who has shepherded me until this day, Talmudic discussion of the seven blessings recited may the Divine Messenger who has redeemed me from beneath the chupah are the blessings recited at a burial all evil, bless these youths..." (Genesis 48:9). (Ketubot 8a, 8b). Additionally, following the marriage is Jacob-Israel never sought a charmed life of a week of seven nights of family and communal consistent righteousness in which he would be carried gathering called Sheva Brakhot. Following death is also from pinnacle to pinnacle of success by a constantly a week of communal and family gathering called Shiva. uplifting and beneficent G-d. His was rather a life of The relationship is not bizarre. Both of these times are confrontation, conflict and struggle. He is the chosen of ones of reflection and transition. They teach us that the patriarchs because it is ultimately his prayer—and nothing continues forever. At the moments of greatest his triumph—which must serve as the model for us all: joy and deepest sorrow we are taught the lesson that "Dear G-d, I do not ask that You make my life we must live every moment of our lives in love, as life is easy; I only ask that You help me to be strong—and to fleeting and like a dream, flies away. overcome." © 2004 Ohr Torah Institutions & Rabbi S. Riskin And so, this may be why Jacob cries. He is RABBI AVI WEISS aware of the reality that we must use our time on this earth to hold on tight and to truly treasure those whom Shabbat Forshpeis we love. © 2004 Hebrew Institute of Riverdale & CJC- s Ya'akov (Jacob) flees Esav (Esau) he arrives AMCHA near his uncle Laban's home. There he sees his RABBI DOV KRAMER Acousin Rachel. The Torah tells us, "And Ya'akov kissed Rachel and cried." (Genesis 29:11) Why the Taking a Closer Look tears? hat goes around comes around. In last week's To be sure, Ya'akov was lonely. Running from Parsha, Ya'akov pretended he was Eisav in Esau he was forced to leave home.
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