Torah Parallels

~ Something to Think About ~ פרשת וישלח Parsha Stumpers By: Daniel Listhaus (32:4) Rashi explains that Yaakov sent angels to his brother Eisav. Why did he have to send angels as opposed to regular messengers? (32:5) Many know the famous Rashi in our parsha which says “with Lavan I have sojourned...and yet I have kept the 613 mitzvos”. However, many do not realize that that is the second explanation Rashi gives. The first is, “I did not become a dignitary or a notable, but rather a mere sojourner. It therefore does not befit you (Eisav) to hate me over the blessings of your father who blessed me, 'Be a lord to your brothers', for it has not yet been fulfilled in me.” Aren't these two explanations contradictory to each other in the sense that one is meant to scare Eisav and the other is to calm him?                                                                                                           (32:5) How could Yaakov clai

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Vayishlach Angels in the Outfield By: Daniel Listhaus וַיִּשְׁלַח יַעֲקֹב מַלְאָכִים לְפָנָיו אֶל עֵשָׂו אָחִיו אַרְצָה שֵׂעִיר שְׂדֵה אֱדוֹם : וַיְצַו אֹתָם לֵאמֹר כֹּה תֹאמְרוּן לַאדֹנִי לְעֵשָׂו כֹּה אָמַר עַבְדְּךָ יַעֲקֹב עִם לָבָן גַּרְתִּי וָאֵחַר עַד עָתָּה : וַיְהִי לִי שׁוֹר וַחֲמוֹר צֹאן וְעֶבֶד וְשִׁפְחָה וָאֶשְׁלְחָה לְהַגִּיד לַאדֹנִי לִמְצֹא חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ “And Yaakov sent malachim before him to Eisav his brother to the land of Seir, the field of Edom. He charged them saying, “Thus shall you say, 'To My lord, to Eisav, so said your servant Yaakov: I have sojourned with Lavan and have lingered until now. I have acquired ox and donkey, flock, and servant, and maidservant and I am sending to tell my lord to find favor in your eyes.'” - Vayishlach 32:4-6             The Torah [1] describes that after Yaakov left Lavan's house, he sent malachim ahead of him to try to determine what Eisav's feelings were toward him. Althou

~ Something to Think About ~ פרשת ויצא Parsha Stumpers By: Daniel Listhaus Three types of people are called “dead” even while they are alive. All three appear in this week's parsha and Rashi . What are they and where do they come up in the parsha ? (28:11) What is the significance of naming a city? Who is allowed to name a city? (28:11) Rashi comments that the stones were all fighting which would be the one to have Yaakov’s head rest on. Since when do rocks fight? (28:12) Rashi writes that the angels first ascended the ladder before the others descended. Shouldn’t it have been the opposite in order for Yaakov not to be left alone even for a moment without “protection”? (28:13) Rashi writes that Hashem attached His Name to Yitzchak because Yitzchak was 1. blind and 2. confined to his house -  and therefore as if he was dead. Why does Rashi add in that Yitzchak was “confined to his house”? (28:15) Rashi writes that Hashem needed to reassure Ya

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Vayeitzei Roles and Rolls: Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But People I Have No Patience For By: Daniel Listhaus וַיְהִי בַבֹּקֶר וְהִנֵּה הִוא לֵאָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל לָבָן מַה זֹּאת עָשִׂיתָ לִּי הֲלֹא בְרָחֵל עָבַדְתִּי עִמָּךְ וְלָמָּה רִמִּיתָנִי : וַיֹּאמֶר לָבָן לֹא יֵעָשֶׂה כֵן בִּמְקוֹמֵנוּ לָתֵת הַצְּעִירָה לִפְנֵי הַבְּכִירָה : “And it was in the morning, and behold , it was Leah! So he [Yaakov] said to Lavan, ‘What is this you have done to me? Was it not for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?’ Lavan said, ‘Such is not done in our place, to give the younger one before the elder…’” - Vayeitzei 29:25-26             After working for Lavan for seven years in order to be able to marry Rachel, the Torah [1] relates that Lavan tricked Yaakov and switched Rachel for Leah. Rashi [2] writes that Yaakov had considered the possibility of this happening and actually prepared for it by giving Rachel a secret sign to use in order t

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Vayeitzei Truth Be Told By: Daniel Listhaus וְלָבָן הָלַךְ לִגְזֹז אֶת צֹאנוֹ וַתִּגְנֹב רָחֵל אֶת הַתְּרָפִים אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִיהָ : וַיִּגְנֹב יַעֲקֹב אֶת לֵב לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי עַל בְּלִי הִגִּיד לוֹ כִּי בֹרֵחַ הוּא “Lavan had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the teraphim that belonged to her father. Yaakov deceived Lavan the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing” - Vayeitzei 31:19-20             In this week's parsha , we continue to follow Yaakov around and learn from his middos (traits) and qualities. We were introduced to Yaakov avinu in parshas Toldos as the “ ish tam yosheiv ohalim ” [1] - the wholesome man who sat and learned Torah. Rashi [2] further describes Yaakov as a person who was real – someone whose actions and speech purely reflected who he was. After learning these things and getting a glimpse of Yaakov's character, a few of the events in this week's parsha should come as a surprise to us.             Whe