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Video Study for Parsha Vayishlach

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muman613:
Shalom my good JTF friends,

We are quickly approaching the Sabbath and I think it is time to start studying the deeper meanings of the Torah text. This week we are reading Parasha Vayishlach which contains the story of the confrontation between the twins Yaakov and Essau. At this stage Essau is pursuing Yaakov with the intention of killing him due to his hatred of his brother because of the incident of the Blessing of the First-born (which we read last week).

Famously Yaakov prepared for this confrontation by doing three things. First he makes preparations for war, then he prays, then he sends gifts. We learn from this that when faced with a confrontation we should attempt all methods to avoid the war unless it is unavoidable, then we wage full-out war. In this case Essau was appeased by the gifts, and Hashem answered his prayer, because when Essau finally arrives with his army, he just hugs Yaakov firmly and kisses him.

The other important event we read is the meeting of Yaakov and the angel (said to be the angel of Essau) where Yaakov and the angel wrestle from nightfall to the morning when the angel must leave (because we learn that angels must sing Shira (songs) every morning). It is after this struggle that the angel gives Yaakov the name Israel which can be translated as "He who prevailed over the divine".

Sadly Rachel dies while traveling on the road and is buried in Beth El... The firstborn son Rueben loses the birthright due to his interference with his fathers marital life (when he moved the bed from his fathers concubine to his mothers tent).

Here is the Parasha in a nutshell from Chabads website...

http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3197/jewish/Vayishlach-in-a-Nutshell.htm

--- Quote ---Parasha in a Nutshell
Jacob returns to the Holy Land after a 20-year stay in Charan, and sends angel-emissaries to Esau in hope of a reconciliation, but his messengers report that his brother is on the warpath with 400 armed men. Jacob prepares for war, prays, and sends Esau a large gift (consisting of hundreds of heads of livestock) to appease him.

That night, Jacob ferries his family and possessions across the Jabbok River; he, however, remains behind and encounters the angel that embodies the spirit of Esau, with whom he wrestles until daybreak. Jacob suffers a dislocated hip but vanquishes the supernal creature, who bestows on him the name Israel, which means “he who prevails over the divine.”

Jacob and Esau meet, embrace and kiss, but part ways. Jacob purchases a plot of land near Shechem, whose crown prince—also called Shechem—abducts and rapes Jacob’s daughter Dinah. Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi avenge the deed by killing all male inhabitants of the city, after rendering them vulnerable by convincing them to circumcise themselves.

Jacob journeys on. Rachel dies while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin, and is buried in a roadside grave near Bethlehem. Reuben loses the birthright because he interferes with his father’s marital life. Jacob arrives in Hebron, to his father Isaac, who later dies at age 180. (Rebecca has passed away before Jacob’s arrival.)

Our Parshah concludes with a detailed account of Esau’s wives, children and grandchildren; the family histories of the people of Seir, among whom Esau settled; and a list of the eight kings who ruled Edom, the land of Esau’s and Seir’s descendants.
--- End quote ---

Rabbi Shafier gives some sage wisdom:

muman613:
Rabbi Yaakov Nagin on the Parasha:

muman613:
Rabbi Svirsky talks about the parahsa..

muman613:
Rabbi Weisblum...

muman613:
And now let's listen to Rabbi Odze...

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