Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 9

December 9, 2023; 26 Kisleiv, 5784 Sponsored anonymously L’Ilui Nishmas Sara Eidel Bas Mordechai

And Yosef brought evil tales about them [the brothers] to their father [Yaakov].” (Bereishis 37:2)

The Baal HaTurim asks why Yosef was punished. Yosef was thrown in a pit, he was sold into slavery and went to prison. Surely, Yosef believed that he was telling the truth to his father about his brothers’ behavior? The Baal HaTurim explains that nonetheless, he should not have brought this information to Yaakov because it was him alone who witnessed his brothers’ behavior..

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 8

December 2, 2023; 19 Kisleiv, 5784 Sponsored anonymously L’Ilui Nishmas Sara Eidel Bas Mordechai

And Yaakov was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn.” (Bereishis 32:25) The Midrash on this verse tells us that the “man” that Yaakov Avinu wrestled with was an angel who represented Eisav. Rashi mentions that Yaakov went to retrieve small, inconsequential containers and it was at that time that he was confronted by the angel. The Gemorah explains that the righteous value their money (or possessions) more so than their own body...

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 7

November 25, 2023; 13 Kisleiv, 5784 Sponsored anonymously L’Ilui Nishmas Sara Eidel Bas Mordechai

And Yaakov left Be’er Sheva and he went to Charan.”(Bereishis 28:10)

The Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 68:7) cites Rabbi Brachya who says that when Yaakov left Be’er Sheva he left the wellspring of blessings. Yaakov Avinu said to himself, “I should leave [Be’er Sheva] so that Eisav will not confront me and say to me, ‘This is how you deceived me!’ and [by intimidating me] he will take away my blessings [by forcing me to recant the blessings and transfer them to him]...

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