5-Bullet Friday: Parshas Vayishlach

~ Torah Parallels ~
5-Bullet Friday

This week is Parshas Vayishlach! Check out this week's d'var torah here.

 Here is this week's 5-Bullet Friday:

  • Question I'm pondering: Protection or Exposure? Rashi (32:23) writes that Yaakov hid his daughter, Dinah, in a box so that Eisav would not set his eyes on her. Rashi further comments that because he withheld her from his brother, when she might have been able to cause him to do teshuva, Yaakov was later punished and Dinah fell into the hands of Shechem. What did Yaakov really do wrong? He took extra precautions to protect his daughter from an evil person. Ein safek motzei m’dai vaday. Why should Yaakov have given his daughter to Eisev for the chance that perhaps she would get him to do teshuva?


  • Concept I am considering:  Greater of two evils. There is a concept of kim leh b’d’raba mineh, which literally means “give him the greater of them”. This idea refers to when someone does a single action which simultaneously results in two punishments; for example killing someone while causing monetary damage. In such a case the person would only be chayav the meesah (death penalty) for the capital offense but neither he nor his heirs will be obligated to pay for the monetary damages.

  • Hashkafic idea I'm reflecting on: Separated at birth. The inherent difference between Yaakov and Eisav, which existed before they were even born, is more than just a fact of life; it is actually something which we are tasked to be cognizant of and, in a sense, maintain. The Rambam (A”Z 11:1) writes that we may not follow the chukas ha’goyim, that there should be a complete distinction from them. We should not feel compelled in any way to follow in their values, celebrations, or even their dressing styles. Separation is necessary to maintain identity. Yet, as we look around there is often an asymmetrical relationship between the modern-day Eisav and Yaakov. On the one hand, it is clear that Eisav sonei es Yaakov, yet on the other hand, it sometimes appears that we, as the proverbial Yaakov, try to love Eisev in the form of imitation. Whether it be adopting values, mimicking dress, or accepting the way they speak, an objective independent onlooker would view the asymmetry of one side hating while the other side is flattering. What is something perhaps you do that you know is specifically for the reason of blending in with the nations and being part of the larger culture?
  • Middah on my mind: Hisboninus (contemplation). Hisboninus has many applications to many areas of daily living. One simple application is merely stopping to think each day about our activities during the day. In order to strive to higher heights we should take time at the end of each day to reflect on our behaviors and actions from during the course of the day and think deeply about them and see if there is any room for improvement.
  • Part of Tefillah I'm concentrating on: Aval anachnu am’cha b’nei v’risecha. In karbanos we mention that we as Jews are proud to be the descendants of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov and go on to state the special relationship that Hashem had with each one - Avraham on Har Hamoriah, Yitzchak on the mizbe’ach, and Yaakov who Hashem loved dearly and called his name Yisroel and Yeshurun. At this time of year with the parshiyos relating to the avos, and this week’s kriyah specifically with Yaakov’s name being changed to Yisroel, may we be zocheh to appreciate the true royal lineage we come from and live up to the middos and attributes of emunah, avodah, and yashrus that they truly represented.

What's on your mind? 

 Have a wonderful Shabbos!

 P.S:
  • Completely random thought I'm thinking about: Basic operations in math: One of these things is not like the other. When it comes to addition it is obvious that when you are adding 4 to 5 you get 9; it is simple if you subtract 3 from 5 you are left with 2; and it is also clear that if you multiply 5 times 3 there is no answer other than 15. However, division is different. Other than the “rules” that division is the opposite of multiplication and that when asked to divide it means equally, if one were to simply say “divide 12 by 4”, there is no reason why one should automatically conclude that it is to be divided equally. For example, think about the shevatim and dividing Eretz Yisroel .The land of Eretz Yisroel is a certain size, yet the division of land to the shevatim did not equate to twelve equal parts in terms of area. Challenge: Think outside the box when it comes to creating equity. Sometimes the right answer is not the obvious one; then again, sometimes it is.

 Have comments or thoughts on this week's bullets? Have other random thoughts on your mind? Send an email to torahparallels@gmail.com. Thank you!

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