by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 16, 2021 | Covenant, Vayishlach, Messiah, Purity, Redemption
The city of Shechem is mentioned as one of the first places Abraham passed through when he arrived in Canaan (Genesis 12:5). Later in the Bible, Dina, the daughter of Leah and Jacob, was raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, chief of the country. After the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 14, 2021 | Vayishlach, Redemption
After Abraham purchased the field of Ephron the Hittite in Hebron, and after Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rivkah in the Machpelah Cave, it was expected that Jacob and his wives would also be buried at the site. So it was surprising that when Rachel passed away while...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 13, 2016 | Vayishlach
As the situation for European Jewry began to deteriorate, the Chofetz Chaim was asked in 1933 about the fate of the Jewish people. As recorded by one of his close disciples, the revered rabbi answered, “Hitler shall fail! No one has ever succeeded in destroying our...
by Rabbi Tuly Weisz | f 27, 2015 | Vayishlach, Justice
Jacob is torn between two values – the desire to live in peace and be accepted by the local inhabitants, and the desire to defend the honor of his daughter and of his family. This week’s portion tells of Jacob’s return to the Land of Canaan, beginning with his...
