Parashas Mikeitz Rosh Chodesh Chanukah

Our Parsha this week is Parashas Mikeitz as well as it being Rosh Chodesh Teves and Chanukah .

Yosef had to spend another two years in prison for asking the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers to speak to Par'o Pharaoh for him so he could get free. All HaShem Does is for our own benefit , even though it may not appear so at the time , for even though he had to spend that extra two years in prison , the time had to be right for his sudden rise to power, which would not have happened , had he come out earlier . He had already spent ten years in prison before the extra two years , where that ten years was to atone for each of the ten brothers that he brought reports back to his Father , a year for a brother report , so now , the " Mikeitz " - " The Happening " which also has within it , the Hebrew word " Keitz " - " The End / Final Point " had arrived , and Yosef was to suddenly rise to power .

The day was Rosh HaShanah , when HaShem Judges the World , that Pharaoh had his dreams , and so , Did HaShem Judge that the Years of Plenty and then Years of Famine was to occur .

We are told that Pharaoh had minor dreams up to this point to do with this happening , but the day came , " to the day " as the Torah States , that the History of the Jewish people was to make their prophesied occurrence , where it would result in Yaakov's family coming to Mitzrayim Egypt .

Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing over the river , out of which came seven cows of beautiful appearance and robust flesh , and they were grazing in the marshland, after which , seven more cows of ugly appearance and gaunt flesh came out of the river and they stood next to the other cows and then ate them . Pharoah awoke and then fell asleep again and dreamed of seven ears of grain that were sprouting on a single stalk - healthy and good and then after them grew seven ears thin and scorched by the east wind , that swallowed up the healthy and full ears and then Pharaoh awoke . With these dreams , HaShem Had Given to Pharaoh the interpretation , but hidden and would only reveal itself for the correct interpreter's interpretation via HaShem , so Pharaoh would know who is interpreting for him correctly .

Pharaoh called all his advisers and necromancers , but none could interpret the dreams for him . One said he would have seven sons and then seven daughters . Another spoke of a wonderful harvest of wheat and still another spoke of seven nations being beaten by Pharaoh and being forced to be under Egytpian rule , but would rebel . None of these interpretations were acceptable or true .

It was then that the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers remembered Yosef and told Pharaoh of what Yosef had done , in interpreting his and the Chamberlain of the Baker's dreams and how they had come true - only through HaShem . Suddenly Yosef was rushed from the prison and cleaned and shaved and dressed and brought before Pharaoh , to stand on the bottom of the seventy steps leading up to Pharaoh's throne . Yosef gave credit to HaShem , who is the True Interpreter of dreams , for all things come from HaShem , Who Makes all things .

Pharaoh tested Yosef , by at first not describing rthe state of the cows in his dream , and Yosef corrected him . Pharaoah asked Yosef how he knew and if he had been standing behind Pharaoh whike he dreamed , but Yosef again gave correct credit to HaShem . From HaShem , Yosef related to Pharaoh that there would be seven years of plenty followed suddenly by seven years of terrible famine and that Pharaoh should appoint someone to organize grain for the years of famine , during the years of plenty . The fact that there were two dreams similar , showed that HaShem would hasten its happening , for it stood ready to take place . Pharaoh knew this was the true interpretation , for as I said , HaShem Had Implanted within Pharaoh's dream , it's interpretation , to reveal itself only for Yosef . From one moment being a prisoner , to suddenly be brought before Pharaoh and win his favor by HaShem , happened not a moment too late or too soon , from when it was supposed to . Yosef's sudden rise to fame , happened in it's time , with not a single moment more to wait , thus the suddenness with which he was brought before Pharaoh . This will be just like the coming of Moshiach , though he tarry , at the time of HaShem Sending him , it will happen very quickly in its time , like a flood , when the time of the " Keitz " - " the Final Moment " comes - thus the Word " Miketz , " - " The Happening in its time . "

Pharaoh wanted to appoint Yosef Viceroy of Egypt , but Pharaoh's advisers objected , saying he is a Hebrew and a slave . Pharaoh answered them that Yosef does not appear to be a slave , but is of obvious cultured and well mannered stock . The advisers to Pharaoh , still objected , that a viceroy must know all seventy languages . HaShem that night sent the Malach Angel Gavriel to teach him all the languages of the nations . To aid and assist Yosef , a ' Hey ' Letter From HaShem's Name , HaShem added to his name , so it could also be ' Yehoseif ' and so , did Yosef learn all the languages , appearing before Pharaoh and the advisors the next morning . Yosef starting on the bottom step , had Pharaoh talk to him in each language and as Yosef answered in that language , Yosef would climb a step per language he answered, until he climbed all seventy steps and stood directly before Pharaoh , who made him Viceroy of Egypt and gave him a name " Tzafnas Pa'neach , " - " He who explains what is hidden / Revealer of hidden things . " According to the Zohar , this was ordained by HaShem , so that when Yosef's brother's would come before him , they wouldn't know his name is Yosef . Yosef knew one more language more than Pharaoh , the language of Hebrew , for no matter how Pharaoh tried to learn it , he couldn't grasp it for it was too holy for him ( for he was filled with Tum'a Impurity ) , and Yosef had to assure him that this fact that Yosef knew one more language more than Pharaoh , Yosef wouldn't reveal .

Pharaoh handed Yosef his ring and only outranked him by the throne . He dressed him in fine linen , put a gold chain around his neck and set him on the royal chariot , appointing him over all Egypt . Pharaoh also gave him Osnas as a wife , who still wore Yaakov's family emblem as a pendant around her neck , for though she was adopted by Potiphar and Zulaicha , she was originally Yaakov and Leah's grand-daughter , daughter of Dinah and Shechem . As Yosef was being taken through the city on royal horseback , the females above tried to get the attention of the new viceroy , but Yosef , only looked up toward Heaven , thanking and blessing HaShem . It was then that Osnas threw him , her pendant , and looking up at her , knew her and who she was . Yosef was thirty years of age when he stood before Pharaoh . Pharaoh had a throne made for Yosef of pure gold and silver , with a picture of the Nile River engraved on it .

As HaShem Had Shown Yosef and so had Yosef related , the years of abundance came swiftly . Yosef had told Pharaoh that the two dreams being two , and coming one after the other , showed , HaShem's Urgency To Fulfill HaShem's Word to Pharaoh and so , after the years of plenty , in which Yosef had stored one fifth away for the years of famine , while people still had food on their table , as the years of Famine started , instantly , that food rotted and devastation and hunger became the state of the day . People hungered and came to Pharaoh for grain , but Pharaoh told them to go to Yosef . Yosef told them he would give them grain only if they praise HaShem and if some even circumcise themselves . Yosef's hidden reason for requesting this , was that he prophetically was shown that we would end up in Egypt and he didn't want us to lose our keeping of this Lawof circumcision , so he thought it would be easier if those around us did too . The people complained at what Yosef asked for and they went to Pharaoh saying that Yosef wants outrageous things . Pharaoh questioned them as to what Yosef asked them to do and when hearing , reminded them that if not for HaShem and Yosef , they wouldn't have any food at all and so they must listen to Yosef . Yosef had two sons with Osnas , Manasseh and Ephraim .

Yosef knew that his brothers would eventually come to Egypt to buy grain , knowing that even there in Canaan , the famine struck , so Yosef instituted certain laws to ensure that they would be brought before him . All who bought grain , had to come themselves , and couldn't send a servant ( ensuring the brothers would have to come personally ). All who bought grain , would only be allowed to carry one donkey- carrying amount per person ( ensuring that all his brothers would have to show themselves ) . All who came to Egypt to buy grain, would have to give details of their name and their Father's name and from where they came ( so that Yosef , who requested every night the list of incomers , would straight away notice his brothers arrival ) . All who bought grain , were not allowed to sell it as a business , but could only buy it straight from Egypt ( to ensure that his brothers would have to come directly ) .

The Parsha says that Yaakov perceived that there were provisions in Egypt . That is a very hidden way to put it . The reason for putting it this way , is that Yaakov never lost hope that he would find Yosef again and so , the word for " Provisions " - " Shever " also means " Hope , " thus pointing to a hope that the brothers might find Yosef , who might have ended up there . So the brothers were sent to Egypt to buy grain , where Yaakov told them to try to look for him there , but to separate and enter through different gates when they go over the border and make a search for him .

Every night after his day's work , Yosef would ask for the list of incomers to be brought to him , to peruse . One night , while reading through them , Yosef noticed that through different gates separately , were the names Reuvein ben Yaakov , Levi ben Yaakov , Simeon ben Yaakov and all his brothers names , entering through separate gates and looking around the city in different areas . Yosef knew what they were doing , but decided to accuse them of being spies , as this is what spies do . They were all caught and brought before him . Yosef recognized them , but they did not recognize him , as he was now a grown strong man with a beard and part of his face covered . He accused them of being spies over and over again . He put them in a ward for three days and no matter how they asked to be released , they were not . They remembered what they had done to their little brother Yosef , who cried and begged them to release him and not send him away and now , they knew they were paying for that sin . Yosef didn't do any of this out of malice , but wanted to test them to see if they had changed and if they would finally stand up for Rachel's other son Binyamin when he would eventually be brought before Yosef . Yosef had the brothers released and only kept back Simeon and told them to return to their Father and bring back Binyamin , to prove that they weren't spies . It was Simeon , who had thrown Yosef in the pit as a boy . Reuvein reminded his brothers that he had warned them not to hurt Yosef and now they were all paying for what they did . They were forced to return home without Simeon , for Yosef had told them that he would release Simeon when they returned with Binyamin , so as to ' prove that they weren't spies . ' Yosef had their money returned to their sacks and it was Levi who first had the worry and heart-ache of being the first one to find the money returned , thinking a charge would be levelled on them , for it was Levi , who had said , when Yosef was a boy at the incident of them selling him , " Ah behold the dreamer comes . " Yosef was actually giving them all a spiritual opportunity to atone for what they did . When they returned to their Father , Yaakov never let them go with Binyamin , even when Reuvein offered to have his two sons slain if he let his Father down Chas Ve Shalom , but still Yaakov never let them take Binyamin , reprimanding them for telling this Viceroy so much . They spoke up and said that this Viceroy seemed to know spiritually a lot about them and how should they know not to tell him that there is another brother , that would be asked to come down there too , for Yosef even knew what wood Yaakov and the Mothers had used when they were all babies , for their cradles .

The grain they brought back from Egypt dwindled and Yaakov again asked them to go to Egypt to buy more grain , but they refused , saying that they would only go if Binyamin would go too . Yehudah assured his Father that he would personally guarantee him and only then did Yaakov allow them to take Binyamin and go .Yaakov told them to take the returned money back to Egypt , a letter to the Viceroy pleading to let Binyamin and their other brother ( meaning Simeon , but also prophetically meaning Yosef ) go and also a tribute of things from Canaan as a gift . The brothers returned to Egypt and again came before Yosef .This was now the fulfillment of Yosef's dreams with them . When Yosef saw his younger brother Binyamin , the son of both his Mother and Father , he asked that preparations be made to dine with him in his palace , which Pharaoh had built him for three running years . They returned the double money to Yosef's son ( not knowing it was his son ) and were put to wait for Yosef to return home . Yosef had food prepared in the Kosher way , and the brothers were amazed . Yosef held up his silver cup and pretended to look into it and so , place set everyone at the table from oldest to youngest . Yosef said to Binyamin , ' do you have any children ' and Binyamin responded yes and that he had , and he had named all his children in a way that had a hidden connotation to the dear beloved brother of his , Yosef , that he had lost . It was then that Yosef could no longer contain himself and he had to leave the room to cry . He returned and asked Binyamin about his Mother and Binyamin told him that she had passed away . Yosef responded , that seeing as he also had no Mother , they would both sit together . Then they ate . The brothers were forced to eat a meal with anxiety , wondering what charges may be put upon them now , as a punishment for the meal they sat down to eat, straight after they sold Yosef . Yosef purposefully had Binyamin served a portion five times the other brother' portions , to see whether they had gotten over their weakness of jealousy .

Yosef left the table and returned shortly afterwards with an astrology chart and asked Binyamin if he knew how to read it and Binyamin said yes . Yosef asked him to look into it and work out where his lost brother is . Binyamin , was shocked to see that his beloved brother Yosef was sitting right next to him , but Yosef quickly took him aside , Yosef putting his finger on his own mouth as if to motion to Binyamin not to say a word and revealed himself to Binyamin and told Binyamin that he would now test the brothers but not to say anything . They spent the night there . Yosef then instructed his son to have them set out early in the morning ready to leave and to put Yosef's silver goblet in the sack of the youngest one . They were then followed , caught up with , and the saarch made , and the goblet was found in the youngest one's sack and so they had to return to Egypt . Yosef told them that only Binyamin must stay and be a slave and the other brothers could go . Yehudah , now steps forward and speaks to Yosef and so , this Parsha ends .

In this Parsha , we very much see the Hand Of HaShem . HaShem Works In His Own Time - His own " Ketz , " not before . When HaShem Decides that the time is right , it comes like a flood . We are now celebrating the Festival of Chanukah , where the Chashmonaim came and found only a single flask cruise of Kosher uncontaminated olive oil for one day's Lighting and the miracle of Chanukah is that it lasted all eight days . What HaShem Ordains , Is . The story of Chanukah teaches us many lessons , but one of the main ones is that we must be like the pure olive oil ( where a whole olive is used to just be able to squeeze just a single pure drop of olive oil ) , remaining pure and unsullied from other ways that are not Torah . It was the Greeks that tried to contaminate us , but when we stood firm and stayed true to Torah , HaShem Helped us beat our enemies and performed a Miracle , thus allowing us to spread our holy Light outside to the World . Even when Shlomo Ha Melech built the Temple , he built the windows smaller on the inside and larger on the outside , to show how HaShem's Light Spreads outwards . We are HaShem's Messengers to let that Holy Purity spread outwards to the World and then , if we remain pure , HaShem Will Bring the " Ketz " - " The End Of Days , " that we all await , for when that time actually comes , it will " Mikeitz , " - " Happen " like a sudden flood . But our behavior and obedience to HaShem , is what can bring it on sooner .

HaShem Waits every day and every moment To Bring on the End Of Days , the " Ketz , " but we all hold this time back . If one Jew goes away from Yiddishkeit and Torah , it affects us all and delays the Time of Redemption , if just one Jew shuns a Torah Way of life , The Way of HaShem's Will , that affects us all . One Jew that doesn't keep Shabbos , can hurt another Jew even far away . Each Jew , as our Tradition Teaches , is responsible one for another . We are all one .We are all HaShem's Creation and so , must learn to behave like it . Yosef , a very holy man , would not , in any way , no matter what test was put his way , stray from HaShem's Will . Even though he was in Galus Exile , he still kept to HaShem's Laws . His sons too . In fact , when we bless our children on Shabbos , we bless them to be like Ephraim and Manasseh , who , even though they grew up in a non Jewish environment , never forgot who they were , and continued to follow the Tenets of HaShem for our people , not letting themselves be tempted away from Torah Yiddishkeit Judaism , for our Forefathers kept the Torah instinctively , even before it was given to us on Har Sinai . This was the saving in the Chanukah story , where , no matter what comes our way to tempt us away from HaShem's Instructions , we are to stay strong in Torah Yiddishkeit Judaism , and so , warrant and deserve the " Mikeitz Ketz " - " The Happening of the Final Days , " at the End of Days .

The World today is not that dissimilar from in Yosef's day , or in the days of the Chashmonaim of Chanukah . Temptations to other beliefs and faiths were plentiful then as they are now . But HaShem Rewards for faithfulness , as He Did With Yosef and the Chashmonaim and as HaShem Will Do with us .

This being also Rosh Chodesh , the New Month of Teves , is a good time to change , as is any . On Rosh Chodesh , we are as a people renewed , as the New Moon , and so , is a nice time to renew our faithfulness and love of HaShem and His Laws Faithfully kept Al Pi Ha Torah .

So let us all work together , as the Chashmonaim did and as Yosef did , to stay faithful and true to Judaism , and shun foreign ways and beliefs , and so work together , to bring on the " Miketz Keitz , " - " The Happening of the End Of Days , " may it come soon in our days .

I wish HaShem With Very Deep Love , a Very Sweet And Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh , Chodesh Tov and Chag Chanukah Sameach With Everlasting Love , and to all my fellow Jews , with love , a Blessed Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh , Chodesh Tov and Chag Chanukah Sameach with love . Shabbat Shalom to all of Creation . May the End Of Days Come Soon In Our Days . Shabbat Shalom with Love .

Parashas Vayeishev

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Vayeishev . The last Parsha finished on the subject of Eisav's descendants and so this Parsha continues with Yaakov's descendants , focusing on Yaakov and Rachel's son Yosef . The Haftorah for this Parsha is Amos 2:6 - 3:8 and connects with the Parsha by referring to the selling of Yosef in the first few verses of the Haftorah .
Yaakov " Vayeishev " - " Settled " in the Land where his Father and Grand-Father sojourned , in the land of Canaan . This Parsha refers to Yosef being seventeen years of age . It was about this time that Leah passed away and seeing that Yosef's Ima Rachel had passed away at the birth of Binyamin , Yosef was actually raised by Bilhah , Yaakov's other wife , linked to Rachel .
Torah refers to Yosef as a "Youth with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah , " for Yosef used to be closer to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah , as the sons of Leah , except Reuvein , used to talk down to Bilhah and Zilpah's sons , referring to them as 'sons of the maid , ' so Yosef ' being the kind of Tzaddik that he was , put his time more to the looked-down-upon sons of Yaakov . Torah refers to Yosef as a " youth " in reference to his teen years being cognizant of his appearance .
Torah Says that Yosef used to bring " Es Dibatam Ra'ah , " - " Evil Reports , " about his brothers . Not that Yosef was Evil , but his intention was that they be Tzaddikim , and he reasoned that reporting them , would give the opportunity for them to be corrected and grow into Tzaddikim .
His reports , were not based on fact , but rather his opinion of what he thought he was perceiving . As an example , he once witnessed his brothers eating from an animal and , because the animal , even though it had been shechted , still quivered , so he perceived that they were eating from a living animal , which they were not . There are certain Halachic rules regarding this , and what they did , did not go against strict Halocha , though he perceived it wrongly . Another time there was question about the animal's unborn , within it , and there again , he doubted their correctness and so , with other instances , did he misunderstand what he saw and reported them to his Father , again not for the reason of malice , but with pure intentions that , they be taught the right way . He should have approached them himself , but he reasoned that due to their ill feeling toward him , they wouldn't listen anyway .
Torah Says that Yaakov loved Yosef more than all the sons since he was a " Child of his old age . " Though this may sound self-explanatory , there is more meaning here. Yosef, would stay home learning , unlike his brothers , and seeing that Yaakov was aging , Yosef , would put himself out to look after his Father and be a physical support to lean on and so does Torah refer to Yosef as a son of Yaakov's old age . Also , Yosef , was a soul very much like his Father , the two looking alike , and having similarities in their life-course , like both having a brother or brothers that hated them , both deaming holy dreams , both marrying women away from their birth-place , both having a total immersed love for HaShem's Law and Learning , and both Yaakov and Yosef , being connected with the woman Yaakov loved , Rachel . Also , Yaakov knew what it felt like when his Father put Eisav as First-born , though Yaakov was the holier , and so , Yaakov did make sure this wouldn't happen again and so was Yosef accredited for his holiness and made the favorite , though this was wrong to the others .
So , to inaugurate Yosef's holiness , his Father did something that would appear as though he was being made higher , for Yaakov made for him a " fine woolen tunic . " Such things , in that day and age , were usually worn by royalty or by those , put in a high position above others , and so , the other sons hated Yosef , as if he was being put over them . Torah Says they couldn't speak to him peacably and so , some of them didn't even speak to him at all , for as Tzaddikim , they couldn't be false and hide their hatred for him with sweet false words , so they rather didn't speak to him at all .
Yosef dreamed a dream and he told his brothers , not in order to boast , but hoping they would respect him more and love him more . He dreamt that they were binding sheaves in the middle of the field and Yosef's sheaf arose and remained standing and his brother's sheaves gathered around and bowed to his sheaf . This was actually a future prophecy , for later on , his brothers did come before him when he was viceroy of Mitzrayim . His intention was not a bad one , but they hated him even more , wrongly thinking that he was after ruler-ship, when he wasn't at all .
He then dreamed another dream , where this time the sun and moon and eleven stars bowed to him . Again , this was not his own doing , but prophetic , for eleven of his brothers would in the future stand before him when he would be viceroy in Egypt . Yosef related it to his brothers alone first and then to his Father and Brothers again and his Father scolded him , not because his Father didn't understand Yosef's holiness , but Yaakov tried to play it down so that the brothers wouldn't be so angry at Yosef . Yaakov knew it was prophetic , for Yosef's dream had referred to Yaakov as ' the sun ' a word HaShem called Yaakov when he had the dream of the ladder , so Yaakov knew this dream was from HaShem . The moon, was in reference to Bilhah , who raised Yosef , for Yosef's Ima Rachel had passed on . Yosef's brothers hated him even more .
Yosef's brothers had gone to pasture their Father's flocks in Shechem , and Israel Yaakov called his son Yosef to check on their welfare and the welfare of the flocks and so Yaakov sent Yosef from Chavron to Shechem . On the way , Yaakov taught Yosef the Law of the man who is a stranger and visitor to a town and is found killed and no one knows who killed him and what the closest town does . That would be the last time Yaakov would see his son for as many years as Yaakov went away from his Father . Torah Tells us how Yosef couldn't find his brothers and came across a man in the field . This man was actually the Malach Angel Gavriel , who told him , " They have journeyed on from here , for I heard them saying ' Let us go to Dothan . ' " This was actually a warning hidden , to Yosef , meaning that his brothers had now 'gone far away from brotherhood towards him and have journeyd on to Dothan , ' where Dothan is from the root " Dat " which means ' to judge ' in other words they have gone to sit in judgement against Yosef . Yosef , knowing in the beginning when his Father asked him to go , that hs brothers hated him , could have said no , but being a Tzaddik , he obeyed his Father and said , as his Great Grand-Father Avraham used to say to HaShem , " Hineini , " - " Here I am , " ready to do Your Bidding HaShem , no matter what the cost , I trust You HaShem .
The brothers saw him from afar and wanted to Judge him as to be killed Chas Ve Shalom and Levi said , " Look , the dreamer comes . " Simeon was the one who said to kill him and throw him into one of the pits and say a wild beast killed him . Simeon knew full well that these pits contained snakes and scorpions as Simeon had once had a previous encounter almost falling into one of these pits and almost getting bitten and so , was that the character of Simeon , wanting Yosef killed . Reuvein , the eldest , knowing he had lost the First-born right to Yosef , still wanted to try save Yosef and so he intervened . Reuvein said he should not be killed first , intending to rescue Yosef from their hands and return him to his Father . And so , they stripped Yosef of his fine woolen tunic , beat him and threw him into one of the pits . Ishamaelites came with spices and it says that Midianite traders bought Yosef , for Yosef was sold from one set of travellers to another , a few times , before he got to Egypt. The Midianite traders who first bought him , didn't at first believe such a handsome and pure looking person as Yosef , could be these men's slave boy , but again Simeon spoke up and a bill of sale was written out as a guarantee that they had a right to sell him . Ishmaelites usually traveled this route from Gilead to Egypt , to sell their spices and wares , and so , Yosef was brought to Egypt , crying and longing for his Father and his home . Reuvein had left to go pray , as he did day and night , repenting for his Aveirah of disarranging his Father's couch , and when he returned , he found the pit empty and Yosef gone and so , asked , " where can I go , " in reference to him ( Reuvein ) being the First - borne and losing that position to Yosef , because of Reuvein's Aveirah , and so wondering that if now Yosef is gone , what position is Reuvein now in level spiritually and also that he felt responsible now for coming back and not finding and being able to save Yosef .
The brothers slaughtered a goatling in the proper way , thus a middah knegged midah against Yosef who questioned their shechting methods , and they dipped Yosef's tunic into it's blood and brought it to their Father and Yehudah handed it to their Father , and he said similar words to his Father as Yaakov had said to Yitzchak when going to his Father to get the Blessing instead of Eisav , so middah knegged middah , those words returned to Yaakov . Yaakov rent his garments and did not stop mourning for his son . Yitzchak was at this stage around 168 years of age . After the sons had sold Yosef , they sat down to a meal , fully believing they judged him correctly . This Aveirah was carried over the centuries , and exacted from us at the time of the Romans when the famous Jewish martyrs were executed . This we read about in the Service of Yom Kippur . Yosef was changed many times from traders to traders , who finally brought him to Egypt . A man by the name of Potiphar saw him , and personally desired him , and so , bought him only after seeing the right of sale contract signed by the brothers ( not knowing they were Yosef's brother ) . The name ' Potiphar , ' comes form ancient Egyptian dialect from the word ' Potiphara , ' and translates to ' Mutilated one , ' for after a disease that he had when he dared to desire Yosef for his own debased wishes , was punished with ending up like a eunuch . Torah describes Potiphar as " Seris Par'o , " where the word " Seris " can also refer to being mutilated as a eunuch . HaShem Sees all and so , the son Yehudah who would have been listened to , if he would have told the brothers not to do this to Yosef , but said nothing , and also gave his Father such pain , in being the one to say to his Father , when bringing Yosef's tunic with blood , " Identify if you please , " was punished straight away by also losing his own sons and being kicked out by the other brothers , for the brothers saw that their Father was inconsolable , and so blamed Yehudah . So Yehudah moved away from them , or as some Rabbis say , was chased away .
HaShem juxtaposes the story of Yehudah amongst the happenings in Torah of Yosef , To Also Teach us that HaShem Always Punishes for wrong ,in HaShem's Own Time That HaShem Knows Best .
Torah Tells us that Yehudah " Went down from his brothers , " and turned to an Adullamite man Hirah and there met and married the daughter of a prominent Canaanite , though many Rabbis and Onkelos translate the word K'na'ani as merchant . If she was a Canaanite , it might explain one of the reasons she and her two out of three sons had to die , for we , as a people are not to marry Canaanites . Three sons were born to Yehudah and this woman , Er , Onan and Shelach . Yehudah took Tamar for a wife of his first son Er . This woman Tamar , was actually a very holy woman as she was the daughter of Noach's son Shem ( also known as Melchitzeddek that Blessed Avraham after the war of the four kings against five , that Avraham had won and defeated when his nephew Lot had been captured - earlier on in the Book of Bereishis ) . Because Er did not want to spoil her beauty , he reasoned that she should not be made pregnant and so HaShem Caused him to die . Yehudah was the one to whom the Laws of Yibum were first given and so , in Levirate marriage , Yehudah then gave his second son Onan to Tamar , but Onan , thinking the seed would not be his , also did not want to impregnate her and so did not want to bring up children in his brother's honor and so , HaShem Caused him to die also . So did Yehudah feel how it is to lose a son , and in this case Yehudah lost two sons , thus being punished for what he put his Father through .Seeing as he blamed Tamar that she must be a woman who causes her husbands to die ( for he did not know that it was their fault ) , he withheld his third son Shelah from Tamar and had Tamar continue to wait in her Father's house . Tamar saw that Yehudah wasn't going to give Shelah to her , and Yehudah's wife also died , and so she decided , for the reason of genuinely wanting to have progeny through Yehudah's holy line , that she would remove her widow's garb and sit at the crossroads on the road to Timnah. , seeing that Shelah , now grown , was still not given to her as a wife . When Yehudah saw her , he didn't recognise her , as she was always modest in his home , never showing her face but always keeping it covered . She agreed to be with him , had him sign a marriage contract as our Rabbis tell us and he was to leave as a pledge of his signet ( the ring position of the royal line of Judah ) as his wedding ring to her , his wrap ( royal cloak cover ) and staff ( the staff representative of a king ) . Tamar conceived by him and it was told to Yehudah that she was pregnant . Yehudah wanted her taken out and burnt , for she was as a Priest's Daughter ( daughter of Malchitzeddek ) that was still in the bounds of awaiting Levirate marriage to Shelah and if not him , then Yehudah would have been next in line to take her . She did not name Yehudah openly , but only had delivered to him , his signet , wrap and staff and asked " Identify if you please , " the same words Yehudah had said to his Father Yaakov , when hurting his Father with the Tunic of Yosef . Satan tried to hide the pledge she had gotten so as to try kill her and stop the line of Dovid and Moshiach , who would be Satan / Samael's eventual downfall , and HaShem Sent the Malach Angel Michael to retrieve it and make it appear and now it was up to Yehudah , whether he would own up and embarrass himself , or hide his embarrassment and have her killed . Yehudah chose to save her and embarrass himself and so was the line of David born . This story of Yehudah and Tamar , was also interposed here within the story of Yosef , for both Tamar and Zulaicha ( Potiphar's wife ) both foresaw they would have children with this holy family of Avraham Yitzchak and Yaakov , yet , Tamar's intention was one of holiness , unlike Potiphar's wife Zulaicha who wasn't at all holy and had no holy intention at all . The Torah narrative returns to Yosef in Potiphar's house . A Hebrew was not looked upon favorably at that time to work in an Egyptian's house ( how that changed when we went into slavery in the Book of Shemos ) and a Hebrew was not even allowed to touch the food of an Egyptian , for they said we contaminate their Treife food . Potiphar saw that Yosef was very special and honest and trustworthy and eventually put Yosef in charge of his house , everything except , as Torah Says , " The Bread he ate , " for as I mentioned , we were not allowed to touch an Egyptian's food . Potiphar couldn't help but notice that Yosef was very physically appealing and nor did Potiphar's wife Zulaicha . Yosef felt more at ease in Egypt now , and so HaShem very quickly reminded him that a Jew should never feel totally comfortable and relaxed in Galus , and So , Sent Against him , the bear personality Zulaicha . Zulaicha saw in her astrology that she would have a family connection with Yosef and so she took it to mean that she would have children with him . This was totally incorrect , for the only family connection she would ever have with him , would be that he would marry her adopted daughter Osnas , who wasn't Egyptian at all , but in fact , the Grand-daughter of Yaakov , Dinah and Shechem's daughter , who ( Osnas ) had been also brought to Egypt . Thus she was actually Jewish . Zulaicha was completely taken by Yosef's looks to the point where she thought about being with him night and day . She persued him continuously , changing and redressing herself five times a day to try and attract his attention , but Yosef would not even look at her . In fact , Yosef tried his best to avoid her and not serve her , but she continually called him , to run her bath , set her clothes , cream her , which he refused and fix her perfumes . Day after day , she hounded him and day after day , he refused her , saying he would not insult his G-D and his boss master Potiphar . She even offered to kill her husband , but nothing worked and he removed himself from her presence . Yosef served his master Potiphar faithfully and whatever Potiphar would ask to drink , hot or cold , it would instantly be put that way by Yosef , into Potiphar's hand . Potiphar even asked if Yosef is a maguician , able to perform such magic , and Yosef , told Potiphar that it was all the Work Of HaShem , Whom Yosef taught Potiphar about . HaShem , revealed Himself to Potiphar , for the sake of Yosef , as a Spiritual Light above Yosef and so , Potiphar could not deny Yosef's holiness . Thus Yosef could not be swayed by Zulaicha . Zulaicha's friends noticed how Zulaicha was depressed and she invited them to dine with her and she called in Yosef , to show how she must look at him all the time and desire him . They too were taken with his looks , which he had obviously gotten from his Mother Rachel , and they advised her to command him to her will , but that too didn't work . Yosef would not sin against HaShem .
The day came which was a festival in Egypt for the overflowing of the Nile , an abundance of water for irrigation , that Egypt celebrated . Potiphar had asked his wife to come with him , but she refused , making out she was ill and she sat in the doorway awaiting Yosef to walk past her , knowing he always came this way . She knew no one else would be in the house and so she planned to catch him . As he walked past her , he didn't even avert his eyes to the scantily clad silk-gowned Zulaicha , who tried to coax him to follow her , but he refused . She put her hands on him and tried her best to get him wanting her , but , seeing an image of his Father Yaakov , he stepped back , thus slighting her , and leaving her rejected . She tried to physically grab him , but he managed to step free , and turn to flee and it was then that she caught the back of his garment and it got left in her hand as he ran away . Knowing she may not be believed by her husband , she got the other wives to also say they had been molested by Yosef and so when Potiphar returned , he found the husbands at his throat verbally , accusing his slave of things Yosef never ever did . Yosef maintained innocence even though Zulaicha argued and so , Potiphar called the Egyptian priests to judge and they asked where the ganment of Yosef was grabbed . Hearing it was in the back , they said , he must have been fleeing and so , she must be lying . Yosef never forgot their kindness to him and repaid them royally when the future famine came . Zulaicha blamed Potiphera for bringing a Hebrew into their home and so , was Yosef judged wrong . Even the adopted daughter Osnas , stood up for Yosef , saying how Zulaicha had constantly hounded him . Potiphar knew Yosef was innocent , but to save face , Yosef was put in prison . Not the usual prison for criminals , but another prison that was kept for those who insulted the royaly of Egypt . HaShem Watched over Yosef and even there , in the prison , Yosef was seen to be a man of worth . At night , Potiphar , the actual head of this Prison , would have Yosef come out , just to clean his house and then have to go back again . Still Zulaicha hounded him , but to no avail .
One day , the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers and the Chamberlain of the Bakers for Pharoah were put in the prison . It was the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers job , to put the cup into Pharaoh's hand , for drinking . That was his job . He had been blamed for an insect that had flown into the cup of wine , purely by accident . The Chamberlain of the Bakers , on the other hand , had purposefully tried to hurt Pharaoh , by putting a stone into what he had baked for Pharaoh . One morning , Yosef saw them downcast and they said they had both dreamed a dream . Both had miraculously dreamed their own dream and hidden , within , the interpretation of the other's dream . Yosef had them relate their dreams , first the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers who dreamed of a grapevine with three tendrils , that budded , blossomed and bloomed into grapes and the Chamberlain squeezed the grapes into Pharaoh's cup and then put it into Pharoah's palm . HaShem Gave Yosef the dream's interpretation which was that in three days , he would be restored to his post and do as he did before in his job . Also Yosef saw a prophecy for our people of how HaShem Would Redeem us from Egypt with three individuals , Moshe Aharon and Miriam . Yosef asked this Chamberlain to remember him , when the Chamberlain would be set free , to please ask for his release , a mistake and lack of trust in HaShem . Then the Chamberlain of the Bakers , who already was given , as I mentioned in his dream , the interpretation of the other's dream , knew that Yosef had with the Help Of HaShem , interpreted correctly , decided to then relate his dream of three wicker baskets on his head , where in the uppermost basket , all kinds of food for Pharoah , where the birds were eating it . So did HaShem Give through Yosef to the Chamberlain of the Bakers , the interpretation of this dream to mean that in three days , Pharaoh's birthday , would hang the Chamberlain of the Bakers . So did everything happen , as HaShem Had Shown to Yosef . The Chaberlain of the Cupbearers tried many times to remember to help Yosef , but was repeatedly made to forget . So ends the Parsha .
The Parsha is called " Vayeishev " - " Settled , " and starts out with Yaakov finally settling in the Holy Land , not yet ours yet . No sooner does Yaakov feel settled , then tragedy strikes and he is forced to be without his beloved son . HaShem Tells the Tzaddik , " Don't be settled and content yet , in this World of Olam Hazeh , for you have work to do , to bring this World to the Light of HaShem . " HaShem Tells the Tzaddik , that his peace and rest will come only in " Olam Habah " - " The World To Come . " Only in Olam Habah , will we finally " Vayeishev " - " Settle . " Everything else that we go through , every day , as Jews , is just a journey , even from one Gilgul to another , from one incarnation to another .
Both Yaakov and Yosef , were Tzaddikim . Both had to go and Settle in strange lands for both Yaakov and Yosef had to settle in Egypt . But that was not our home . Only Eretz Yisroel is our true home . But wherever we are , HaShem Is Always with us . We are about to celebrate the Festival of Chanukah , where a miracle was performed for us , for where there was only a cruse of Kasher Oil to last for one day , it lasted throughout the Eight days . Again a sign miracle from HaShem , that HaShem Reminds us , that no matter where we find ourselves , our only place of " Vayeishev " - " Settling , " is with HaShem , and not foreign pagan ways . This is the story of Chanukah , and here , in our Parsha , is this message reverberated , for no matter where we find ourselves , we are to keep HaShem's Laws , no matter what outside pressure . Yosef , in Egypt kept to our Laws , and remained a Holy Hebrew . So did Yaakov . So must we . These places of and in Galus , are not our home , but a temporary abode , to do Miztvos and bring the Light of HaShem and raise ourselves to Heaven , Only is Canaan , referred to here , as " Vayeishev " - " Settling . " For only HaShem and His Holy Land ( the Land of our Fore-Fathers ) and HaShem's Way , True " Vayeishev " - " Settling . " We all face many trials and tribulations , and many tempters , like in the Story of Chanukah , that try pull us away from HaShem's Path , Chas Ve Shalom , but these paths of falsity , couched in false religion , will never lead a person to where HaShem Instructs In His Torah . The Way , is only HaShem's Way , and the Truth , Is Only HaShem's Truth , and the " Vayeishev " - " Settling , " is only with HaShem And His Torah True . No Jew who is a True Jew can truly settle in anything else but HaShem and His Way . It may feel physically okay for now , but the Jewish Neshoma cries out to HaShem , and only HaShem's Settlement is True Home . As we light each Candle on the Chanukiah that comes , so must we work to Light up HaShem's Creation with His Light , and as each candle on the Chanukiah burns upwards , so must all our works and actions , be for the sake of HaShem and His Heaven . Eight Days are Chanukah and Eight is the number into the Spiritual , into Olam Habah . It is only in Olam Habah that we Jews can truly " Vayeishev " - " Settle " and it is only in Olam Habah that we as Jews find True Settling Peace . Until we get there , we have much word to do , for we Jews are to be a Light unto the Nations , and lead the World to HaShem's One and Only Truth of Oneness . Chanukah teaches us to be faithful and true to HaShem Alone . This Parsha of " Vayeishev " Shows us that only within HaShem can we truly Settle . So let's use this World of Olam Hazeh to its full potential , and not lose a single opportunity to prove our faithfulness to HaShem's Torah Truth , making this World , into a Place , as Intended , where HaShem Can " Vayeishev , " - " Settle , " Among us , as HaShem Wanted to do in Gan Eiden . May the World finally come to the Knowledge and Truth Of HaShem , for Within HaShem , Is the Only Place to " Vayeishev " - " Settle . " Our Fore-Fathers knew this . So may we all come to know this and do this and make Olam Hazeh , The Present Word , Olam Habah , The World To Come ,in the Loving Care of HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu .
I wish HaShem With Sweet Love a Very Beautiful and Special Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Chanukah Sameach With Love , and to all my fellow Jews , a Very Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Chanukah Sameach with love . Shabbat Shalom to all Creation . May Olam HaBah come soon in our days .

Parashas Vayishlach

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Vayishlach that Speaks of Yaakov and Eisav , beginning with a 'Vav' as 'Va,' which means 'And , ' showing as most Parshas in the Torah , that each Parsha continues from the Parsha before and that Torah continues eternally from Creation to the End of Days and beyond eternally .The Haftorah of this Parsha , is from Obadiah 1:1-21 and the Prophet Obadiah is Given By HaShem prophecies and talks of the future of Edom . Obadiah himself was originally from Edom and he became a very righteous proselyte to Judaism and a very holy man .
Our Parsha this Shabbos starts with Yaakov returning home and preparing to face Eisav his brother . Yaakov sends Malachim to Eisav his brother with a message saying that Yaakov had stayed with Lavan , a swindler and evil man filled with Tum'a Impurity , and had overcome him , as a message to Eisav that he , Yaakov could overpower Eisav .Also , that Yaakov is sending gifts to Eisav in peace . Yaakov was so holy that HaShem Had Given Yaakov power to command Malachim Angels . The Malachim returned to Yaakov to tell him that Eisav was headed to meet Yaakov with four hundred men , thus suggesting that Eisav was not intending peace . Yaakov prepared in three ways to meet the threat , which was, by Tefillah Prayer , Appeasement of the enemy and failing appeasement , Yaakov prepared for War . Yaakov leading in front , separated the droves , putting Bilhah and Zilpah and their children of his , in front , walking behind him , then Leah and her children with him , next and Rachel , shielded by Yosef last . Each carrying under their cloak a sword . He separated each drove , so should Eisav smite one drove Chas Ve Shalom , the others could escape .
They reached the ford of the Jabbok and Yaakov had his family go over , and then his animals and his possessions . When he returned back over the Jabbok to get the rest of his things , a man was there with flocks . The man asked Yaakov to help him with his things if the man helps Yaakov, even though there were just a few jugs left for Yaakov , but kind Yaakov offered help and took some of the man's things across . When Yaakov came back to help the man with the rest , those things that he had already carried over , had returned . And so , Yaakov carried on through the night carrying the man's things , just to have some of them return and more appear .
Yaakov asked the man if he was a magician or an evil spirit and a fight broke out . The man attacked Yaakov and they fought till dawn , with dust rising from Earth to Heaven . Yaakov being extremely strong , over-powered and beat the man , but Yaakov himself was injured on his hip-socket , and so today , we remove this part when eating basar , called the Gid Hanashe . This is indicative of our history , that through time , the nations try to harm us , but we will always survive , though we will be hurt and injured and suffer through this time .
The man , by dawn , was an Angel . The Angel Samael , the Angel of Eisav Amalek . Yaakov prevailed , as will we , at the End of Days . When dawn broke , it became one of the Time-Watches that Malachim Angels sing Shira to HaShem and it became this Angel's time and first opportunity to sing Shira and so asked Yaakov to let him go . Yaakov said he would only let him go if the Angel Blessed him , thus an acknowledgement of the Blessing to Yaakov over his brother Eisav . The Angel did so and so was Yaakov then called Yisrael . The Angel started to sing Shira from the Earth . Yaakov called the Place " Peniel . " HaShem Caused the " Sun to rise " as it says , which meant that HaShem Sent a Special Light from the Beginning of Creation , To Help Heal Yaakov .
Yaakov and his family continued on their way and so , met up with Eisav and his four hundred men . Yaakov hid his daughter Dinah , which our Rabbis say was wrong as she , being so holy , might have had an effect on Eisav and so , was one of the reasons for what happened with regards to her , in this Parsha . Yaakov bowed seven times to the ground , in actuality , bowing not directly to his brother , but to HaShem's Shechinah and allowed himself to call his brother master and " adoni , " and because of this , HaShem , Who Did Not Want us to humble ourselves to Edom , made sure that Eisav would have that many rulers in number to the amount of times Yaakov called his brother so , before Israel as a nation , had a king . The Midrash describes how Eisav tried to keep overcoming his brother , but the meeting between the two ended up peaceful . Yaakov said he would meet Eisav at a later date at Seir , and our Rabbonim take this as a future prophecy . Seir belongs to Eisav . The two separated . Yaakov arrived in Shechem and bought a parcel of land and set up an altar there . Yaakov had not tithed to HaShem yet , as he had said he would , and so is this one of the reasons for his trials and his record constantly being brought for scrutiny . So the next trial came upon the family .
The Parsha says that Dinah , " the daughter of Leah " went out to look at a market festival of the Shechemites . We note how Dinah is mentioned here specifically as " the daughter of Leah , " for she , as her Mother Leah , liked to " Go out " as we were told, when in Torah earlier , Leah had gone out in the incident of the Dudaim . This teaches us how our men and women must be modest and keep to ourselves and not display ourselves , but have Tznius . Shechem , the son of the king in the land where they were staying saw her when she ' went out ' from her family to look over the daughters of the land at the festival , desired her and took her by coercive force and raped her .He spoke to his father and asked his father Hamor to get her for him as a wife . When Yaakov's sons heard , they were outraged . They agreed on condition that Shechem has its men circumcised . Yaakov's sons reasoned that all Creation is to live by the Seven Noachide Laws , and that seeing as Shechem had broken them by robbery of stealing by force their sister and that the town had not set up a court to judge the crime , they were all guilty of breaking the Seven Noachide Laws .As Midrash Bereishis Says by Rabbi Weissman , a man called Chedkam and his sons were angry at the idea of the town having to be circumcised and they threatened murder to all those who went through with it . Members of the town persuaded them to wait and after they had been circumcised , they would rob and kill Yaakov and his family and take all that was theirs . Dinah managed to get word to Yaakov and the sons Shimon and Levi at the age of thirteen , on the third day after the Shechemites had circumcized themselves , the two sons of Yaakov , set upon the town and killed all the males and took back Dinah their sister , who by now was carrying within her a daughter , who later was born and called Asenath , who married Yosef in Egypt . Yaakov was angry at their anger and feared reprisals , which did take place , for the nations around them got together and attacked Yaakov and his family . HaShem Saved them with massive dust storms and Yaakov and his family escaped unharmed . We are also told how , after Yaakov and Eisav parted , they did attack Yaakov and his family , but ended up dispersing , as they were beaten and Eisav was injured . HaShem Appeared to Yaakov and Told him to go to Beth-El Luz and make an Altar there and fulfill his promise of tithes . Yaakov rid themselves of all the idols that were carried and only taken as spoils by the foreign people that followed them , from Shechem , and hid them under the Terebinth near Shechem .
Torah then tells us that Devorah , Rivka's wet-nurse passed away . She was very close to Rivka , Yaakov's Mother , and that she was buried in a place Yaakov called Allon-Bachus - Bachus meaning Weeping . This part is put in here to tell us that at that very moment , Rivka , Yaakov's Ima had also passed away , but it is not directly mentioned here , for no one was there at the time as a close family relative to bury Rivka , except Eisav , whom Rivka would not have wanted to bury her and that all would say she mothered such a Rasha and so , she was buried quietly , for Yitzchak was blind and Yaakov was still on his way to her . Thus after Yaakov left so many years ago , he never got to see his Ima again , and it was Devorah who had just come to meet them as they were on their way back to see Yitzchak and Rivka . HaShem Then Renames Yaakov Yisrael and Yaakov set up a pillar where HaShem Told him and called the place where HaShem Had Spoken To him " Beth - El , " which actually means , " House of G-D . "
They journeyed from there toward Ephrath and it was there that Rachel went into labor . It is at this time when a woman is in labor when Satan scrutinizes a woman's account and so , it was remembered Yaakov's words that whoever has the teraphim will die , and so , as she was giving birth to Binyamin , whom she actually called " Ben-Oni " - " Son of my Mourning , " that she passed away and Yaakov called him " Binyamin " - " Son of my right hand " so as to give him a positive name and destiny . And so was she buried on the road to Ephrath Beis-Lechem , not in the Cave of Machpelah as the Fore-Fathers and Fore-Mothers were , as she would in the future , when our exiles were going into Bavel under Nebuchadnezzar , she would pray for us to HaShem and He Would Listen to her prayer , for it would be there , that they would walk past on the way . HaShem Would Acknowledge her prayer because as she was prepared to stand aside and not be angry at her sister marrying Yaakov , so could HaShem Please put aside His Anger at some of us following Avodah Zorah Idols , that caused us to go into exile , as worthless idols . Yaakov set up a monument there at her burial place , which is still there to visit today .
Torah then tells us how Reuvein did an Aveirah . This has to be understood in its Hebrew depth . Not that Reuvein Chas Ve Shalom , lay with his Father's wife , but that in each of his Father's Wive's tents , was a Couch for the Shechinah of HaShem , so Yaakov would know which Tent to go into when conceiving the Twelve Tribes , and that when Rachel passed away , Yaakov moved his Couch into Bilhah's tent , and Reuvein , standing up for his Mother Leah , moved it out and into his Mother's tent , so that his Father should not slight his Mother . We know that Reuvein didn't commit a crime with his Father's wife , for the very next verse says , " The sons of Yaakov were twelve , suggesting that they were all worthy of being part of the Twelve Tribes and were all Torah Keeping not to break Torah Laws and so this is what really happened , but seeing as Reuvein , as all the others then were Tzaddikim , the punishment for even a slight Aveirah , is great and so Reuvein lost his first born right and so , spent every moment praying to HaShem day and night for forgiveness . Even at the end of Yaakov's life , Yaakov still Blessed Reuvein as holy , so Reuvein's action was never one of taking his Father's wife Chas Ve Shalom , but interfering with the Couch of The Shechinah and his Father's couch.
Torah then tells us that Yaakov finally came to Yitzchak his Father , not Rivka , for she had passed away . We are told that Yitzchak passed away at 180 , which was the same year ( according to Midrash Bereishis Says by Rabbi Weissman , that Yosef was released from prison in Egypt . Yaakov and Eisav buried their Father Yitzchak in the Cave of Machpelah Chevron near Mamre .
The Torah then goes into the line of Eisav and his wives . We note a lot of incest and intermarriage among Eisav's family . We also note how their arrogance had them calling themselves 'chiefs , ' and how the chiefs didn't live that long as chiefs , for murder is rampant in Eisav's line . Out of Eliphaz , son of Eisav , came Amalek , our enemy who tries to kill us through time , among others . Magdiel , that is mentioned came down to Rome . We are repeatedly told here how Eisav is the father of Edom . So the Parsha ends .
The Sedra is called " Vayishlach , " which means " Sent . " Where Yaakov sent Angels ahead of him to his brother . The whole idea of sending and being an Emissary for HaShem , Takes great holiness . It is not always an easy path to travel , as we note with Yaakov's life and trials . We often wonder what exactly is an Angel . If one looks closely at the phrasing of the first three words of this Parsha , " Vayishlach Yaakov Mal'achim , " and we read these words in another context , it can almost appear as if saying , ' And Yaakov was sent as an angel . ' The " Vayi " part of the word " Vayishlach , " can be put also as ' And He , HaShem , Sent , as if saying , ' And He HaShem Sent Yaakov , as an Emissary. ' So what is an Angel ? An Emissary of HaShem . So we all can be Emissaries of HaShem if we choose . If we keep HaShem's Commandments in Torah . We all can be like Angels , working for HaShem and not for ourselves . No doubt that real Angels are Spiritual Entities . Even their negative counterparts , are too . Even those , do a job to bring about faithfulness to HaShem , to test all our true following of HaShem Only , above our own wants and desires . So to be like an Angel , is to be an Emissary for HaShem , working solely for HaShem and not for ourselves , just as Yaakov did his whole entire life . HaShem Sends us all out as His Angels and Emissaries , to do His Bidding and make Creation a place of Holiness where HaShem Can Dwell Among us . To make Creation a place of Holiness as intended , so each of us are HaShem's Emmissaries , to use our lives in His Service to bring all around us to HaShem .
We are all HaShem's Shaliachs Shluchim , like Angels , working to make all things Holy . But how do we start ? With ourselves , for the best way to teach , is through being a holy example to others and all around us .
The Angel HaShem Sends , is not to be asked a name , for it is HaShem Who Is Important and the Sender of the Message , thus the messenger is the Hand of HaShem . The same with us . To link up and get close to HaShem , is to be of little consequence to ourselves and to only be a Messenger , an Emmisary Of The One Above . This is a way to be with HaShem . To be the Hand of HaShem's Sending . We are only His Emissaries . The World around us has forgotten this and so , goes its own wrong way . This is why the World is in such a bad shape and suffering so . The way to stop the suffering and change the World , is to change ourselves and do our tasks as Creations of HaShem , as HaShem's Emissaries , not working for our own way , but for HaShem , following Him and doing as He Tells us to do , starting with ourselves , and working outwards . This will bring the Creation to where it is supposed to be and the World will improve . So stand up right now , and say to HaShem that from now on , you will be His Emissary Angel , working only for Him , doing all HaShem Tells you to do in His Torah , and be His Emissary to all Creation around you . Let us all make this World , HaShem's Delight , as HaShem Created It , and be True and Faithful Shaliachs to HaShem .
I wish HaShem With Utmost Love and Faithfulness , A Truly Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh With So Much Love , and to all of Creation , HaShem's Emissaries , A Truly Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love .

Parashas Vayeitzei

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Vayeitzei , where Yaakov continues on his way to bring in the next generation of our Jewish people and the Haftorah is Hosea 11:7 - 14:10 , also referring to the progeny of Yaakov .
Yaakov has just left his family to find a wife and become the Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel . As we remember , Eisav wanted to kill him and as Yaakov left his home , Eisav sent his son Elifaz , who became the father of Amalek ( our greatest enemy ) to kill Yaakov .
Elifaz , was not like his father Eisav , and he learnt Torah with Yitzchak . Elifaz was one of the men that had come to visit Iyov Job , when Iyov was being tested and it was Elifaz that tried to remind Iyov to trust in HaShem . Before Elifaz left to go after Yaakov , his Mother Adah advised him not to attack Yaakov , for Yaakov was much stronger and when Elifaz caught up with Yaakov , as he didn't want to totally disobey his father Eisav , all Elifaz did , was rob Yaakov of his things and clothes . This was why , when Yaakov arrived at Lavan , he arrived penniless and looking very poor . We note that this Parsha tells us that Yaakov departed from Beer-sheba and went 'toward' Haran . The word ' toward' suggests that Yaakov didn't go straight there, but 'toward' there and only got there much later . The reason for that was that before he went to Haran , Yaakov stopped to learn in the Yeshiva of Shem and Eiver , in order to prepare himself spiritually for the evil of Lavan and also , Yaakov knew that Eisav would be after him and so a Yeshiva was the safest place . Yaakov also had another reason , for on the way , after being robbed by Elifaz , and being left without clothes , as he got to the river , a man came and sadly had an accident riding and fell in , and miraculously , the clothes appeared outside the river bank and the man disappeared . Yaakov had no choice , but to dress in these clothes and continue on his journey . Not fully knowing the meaning of this incident , Yaakov feared he may be blamed for this man's accident and so , the Yeshiva was to him like a City of Refuge , from the point of Law ( Bamidbar Numbers 35:22-28 ) of the " Go'el HaDam " - " Redeemer of the Blood " ( the relative of the one killed who can avenge his murdered relative ) , even though he had not done anything wrong . After Yaakov's visit to the Yeshiva, he headed toward his destination and when he had almost reached it , he realized that he had passed Har Moriah , where the Akeidah Revelation had happened with his Father and Grand-Father at the Akeidah , without praying at the Very Holy Site ( which is our Religious Custom to say a Prayer Tefillah at the site of a Miracle From HaShem or Saving From HaShem , so he returned all the way back there , and so , HaShem Rewarded him for returning , with a most special Vision . So he didn't go straight to Charan .
This vision was the Dream of Yaakov with the Ladder .
When Yaakov arrived back at Har Moriah , it suddenly got dark , and he was forced to spend the night there . He heard the sound and Song of Holy Spiritual Malachim and knew this was a Holy Place .He took the 12 Stones that Avraham had used to make the Altar previously for the Akeidah , and put it around his head , putting his head as a cushion on one of them , thinking if he is worthy to become the Farther of the Twelve Tribes , then all these stones will merge into one and that is exactly what happened , for when he awoke , Torah Tells us in Bereishis 28 : 18 that it was one stone , thus all the stones wanted to be under this Tzaddik's head and so became one and Yaakov knew he would be the Father of the Twelve Tribes .
Yaakov dreamt of a " Sulam , " - " Ladder , " reaching up to Heaven , with its bottom part Earthward with Malachim going up and down on it . This is the journey of a holy man , who starts on Earth and makes his way up toward Shamaim Heaven . Yaakov was thus given foreknowledge of the Kingdoms that will come and attack us , the Babylonian , Perian - Median , Greek and Roman Empires and as he climbed the Ladder in his dream , each rung was akin to a year we would be in or under these nation's exile . Thus for Babylon , he climbed 70 rungs and then the Angel Sar of that nation fell and for each other nation , the same thing . Yaakov continued to climb higher and noticed that our present exile seemed never ending , and HaShem Informed him it would be a very long present exile , but this exile and it's Sar Angel would also have an end , for each nation has its protecting Angel and only when that ' Sar ' - Nation's Angel is defeated , can the nation no longer be . Yaakov also saw the Malachim of Eretz Yisroel and of Chutz La' Aretz coming and going and Yaakov as we know was accompanied during his travel and stay in the Holy Land which would escort him while there , and Angels that escorted him in Chutz La' Aretz outside the Holy Land would then take over and escort him outside the Land wherever he would go . Yaakov also saw some of the workings of the Malachim here on Earth and also going up toward Heaven . HaShem Renewed the Covenant with Yaakov and his progeny and again Promised us Jews the Land of Eretz Yisroel . The whole idea of the " Sulam " - " Ladder , " is as the Hebrew Word also suggests , for "Sulam " also means a ' scale , ' is that each and every thing we do , is on a scale , to build ourselves to be more and more Holy every day , and as on a scale , everything we do is weighed like on a scale , and so counts for or against us , a means for us to raise our level of Holiness toward HaShem , if we grow Holier .
Yaakov awoke , realizing the Holiness of This Place and the Stones had become one . This Stone , he set up as a pillar and poured oil on its top and named the place Beit El . Yaakov vowed that if HaShem Would Be With him , Guard him on his way , Give him bread to eat and clothes to wear and if Yaakov returns to his Father in peace and that HaShem Will be G-D To him , then Yaakov would make this pillar a House of G-D ( And It became so , for this was the site of the First and Second Beis HaMikdash Temples and is to be the site of the Third Beis HaMikdash Temple to come in Moshiach's time ) and that Yaakov would repeatedly Tithe to HaShem . So Yaakov got up and went on to the destination of his journey . He ended at a well where three flocks of sheep lay waiting to drink at the Well covered by a large stone over the mouth of the Well . The Shephards said , after letting him know this was the town of his relative Lavan and Rachel his daughter was also coming to the well , that they couldn't roll the stone away till all the flocks had come . When Yaakov saw Rachel , he alone rolled away the stone that needed many men together to move . This was the meeting of Yaakov and Rachel . Yaakov kissed Rachel on the forehead and Torah Tells us that he wept , for he foresaw this beloved of his passing away early . Yaakov told her who he was and that he was a relative and she ran to tell her Father .
It had already been decided long ago , that Leah and her sister Rachel would be wives to Eisav and Yaakov and Leah , knowing what kind of person Eisav was , Leah spent days crying , which caused her eyes to be pained and inflamed around her eyelids . It was decided then and there , knowing Lavan was a swindler as his name suggests,that Rachel would give Yaakov a sign so he would know he is marrying Rachel . This sign , say our Rabbis , was the three Mitzvos encumbent on a Jewish Woman . Yaakov was brought to Lavan and when he heard Yaakov had come and remembered that long ago , Eliezer had come with great jewels , Lavan ran out to meet Yaakov and was shocked at the poverty of him and his dress , and so Lavan kept trying to feel through his clothes if he might be hiding jewels underneath but he wasn't . Yaakov stayed a month and then discussed payment for looking after the sheep . Yaakov asked to marry Rachel and for her he would work seven years . And so Yaakov did work seven years ,and when the time came , asked for her . Lavan , seeing that while Yaakov arrived and stayed there , Lavan had prospered and also bore sons and so Lavan didn't want him to leave .So Lavan the swindler , asked the whole town to back him up and they would make a scheme to replace Leah for Rachel . The towns people agreed not to say anything at the wedding , even though they did try warn Yaakov by singing ' Oy Lay Oy Lay , ' which meant ' Oh this is Leah Oh this is Leah , ' not because they cared for Yaakov , but just so they could say afterwards that they tried to warn him . Lavan managed to extract money from the townspeople , to keep them silent , which he never returned . At the wedding , he , Lavan , replaced Rachel with Leah . Rachel felt sorry for her sister and so , taught her sister the signs and put Leah in her place . Lavan also gave Zilpah , who was actually Lavan's daughter through a concubine , with Leah and in the morning , Yaakov realized what had happened . When he asked Leah why she had decived him , she said to Yaakov that Yaakov too had once , for a good reason , also pretended to be his brother , and she did the same ( so what we do , has a return ) . Yaakov was upset with Lavan and asked him why he had done this , and Lavan said it isn't done in their place to give the younger before the elder and that if Yaakov works another seven years , then he will give Rachel to Yaakov , within the week ( the word 'week' is in Torah - Bereishis 29: 27-28 ) and so Yaakov worked another seven years and just after the Sheva Brochas within the week of marrying Leah , Lavan gave him Rachel , and also Bilhah , who was also Lavan's daughter with a concubine . Yaakov , faithful as he was , still worked another seven years for Rachel , even though he married her within the first week after marrying Leah .
Leah , because HaShem saw she was unloved , gave her the first four children Reuvein , Simeon , Levi and Yehudah .
Rachel saw she had no children and told Yaakov to give her children . Yaakov reprimanded her and HaShem Was Upset at Yaakov for this reprimand . Rachel remembered how Sarah had given Avraham her handmaid and so Rachel did the same and gave Bilhah to Yaakov and two more sons were born - Dan and Naphtali . Leah did the same thing with Zilpah and two more sons were born - Gad and Asher . Reuvein went out in the days of the wheat harvest and brought Dudaim to his Mother Leah and Rachel wanted them but Leah said no . Leah bore to Yaakov two more sons Yissaschar and Zevulun , so now Leah had borne to Yaakov half the amount of the Twelve Tribes and so , when Leah conceived the next child , HaShem Judged that the last two tribes must come form Rachel and so , this child of Leah's came out a girl called Dinah , who ended up to be the Mother of Asenath , who married Yosef .
Rachel conceived and bore Yosef and prophetically named him in prophecy knowing there would still be by Rachel , another son . It was after Yosef was born , whose progeny have power over Eisav and Amalek , that Yaakov knew he must return home and face Eisav . So Yaakov asked Lavan permission to go . But Lavan , knowing that Yaakov had brought from HaShem Blessings , tried to keep him there making one false deal after another with sheep , trying to cheat Yaakov a hundred times . But HaShem Protected Yaakov . Yaakov heard Lavan's sons and Lavan jealous at how wealthy Yaakov had become and HaShem Ordered Yaakov to return home to his family . Yaakov told Rachel and Leah that he wanted to go and they agreed . So Yaakov took his children and wives and livestock and started his return home without telling Lavan . Rachel stole her Father's teraphim . But what are teraphim ? They were the skulls of children to which rituals were done to get these skulls to talk . When Lavan heard that Yaakov had left , Lavan took his men and sons ( who were only actually born in Yaakov's merit via Blessings from HaShem and it was from one of these sons that the evil Bilaam got born that hated and tried to curse the Jewish people in Moshe's time ) and hotly pursued Yaakov . HaShem Appeared To Lavan in a dream and Warned Lavan not to do any harm to Yaakov . Lavan caught up with Yaakov and loudly blamed Yaakov for leaving and asked who stole his teraphim . Yaakov once and for all , answered Lavan how he had worked for Lavan for fourteen years for his daughters and six years for the livestock , for which not a single full night did Yaakov sleep , for he cared and watched constantly over Lavan's flocks . It was Yaakov who wrote many Psalms that came down to Dovid prophetically for their souls were linked . Yaakov said that with whomever the teraphim are , they shall not live , not knowing that Rachel had taken them . Rachel's time of the month was upon her and so she hid them in the camel packsaddle and sat on it and when Lavan , who suspected her , came into her tent to check , she said she couldn't get up for the reason that it was her monthly time . Yaakov answered Lavan and even so , Lavan still thought everything and everyone was his . Yaakov and Lavan made a covenant agreement with a stone and Yaakov's brethren took other stones and made a mound and this became a witness that none was to go over this mound against each other and that Yaakov would not take wives in addition to Lavan's daughters . How deceitful then was Lavan's grandson Bilaam , who took no notice of the agreement between us and them , when he was on his way to curse and hurt us , and his donkey took him past here and banged his leg on this very mound , to remind him of the covenant between Yaakov's family and his , a covenant that Bilaam showed openly he shuns and so did the events to Bilaam happen as Torah tells us in Moshe's time in Bamidbar 22:25 and the rest of the Chapters around it . The next morning , Lavan left and returned to his place , which also means that even though he was in the holy presence of Yaakov , he was a man of evil and negativity and this time with holy Yaakov , never made an impression on his negative character to change for the better and become more holy . Yaakov , too went on his way and seeing that he was coming to the Holy Land , the Angels Malachim that had accompanied Yaakov outside the Holy Land left Yaakov to be replaced with Malachim Angels from the Holy Land , that would now accompany him in Eretz Yisroel . He named this place Machanaim So ends the Parsha .
This Parsha is called Parashas Vayeitzei , where the word " Vayeitzei , " means " Departed , " for Yaakov is leaving the Holy Land , to continue his destiny toward holiness .
It is interesting that in order for Yaakov to grow in Holiness, he must leave a Holy Place to go to a place much less Holy . Shouldn't it be the other way around to gain in Holiness . This is similar to Adam Ve Chava , leaving Gan Eiden , to come down here to a place more physical and less Holy , in order to work their way back there to Holiness , It shows , how sometines , in order to grow , we need to , at times , go through physical trials and tests in a place less holy , in order to grow above that , it holiness . We find how in Pirkei Avos , the Mishna says that we are to prepare ourselves in the antechamber ( Earth ) so that we can enter the banquet hall ( Gan Eiden Shamaim ) . No place we have to go through or experience we have to go through is ever wasted . We may not know the reason for the hardships and tests and trials we face , but there is a reason . The whole idea of a Ladder , is the same , where the Ladder starts Earthbound and works up toward Shamaim - Heaven . Every step we take is an opportunity to grow Spiritually .
We need to sometimes depart from what we know , as Avraham did when he was told " Lech Lecha , " for as we said then , the ' Going , ' was for his benefit . Everything HaShem Does For us , though it may not appear so at the time , is for our benefit . We need to sometimes leave or " Vayeitzei , " - " Depart " from our comfort zone , in order to move forward . Heaven isn't gained on a silver platter , for nothing . We need to work at it all the time , every day , every hour , to earn it's Beauty and Holy Specialness . Every day , is a trip up the rungs of the Ladder , leading to HaShem , if only we overcome the physical Earth-bound World around us and climb above it and our Yetzer Horahs , in order to overcome anything and everything negative and work toward HaShem . For each step toward Holiness , is a step toward Olam Habah , The World To Come , that comes just after Moshiach will come . The word Moshiach has the Gematrical value of 7 and the period after that into the Spiritual , is the number 8 . Within our Parsha , the word " Vayeitzei , " has a Gematrical value of 6+10 + 90 + 1 = 107 and 1+0+7 = 8 . The very " Vayeitzei , " - " Departing , " on the journey of growing , leads to Olam Habah .
Like holy Yaakov , we are always headed toward our destination . If we are called upon to make certain detours along the way toward our destination , we mustn't be disheartened , for HaShem Knows All and Knows what we need along the way and that we stick to Torah along the way as our mode of travel . For that is the depth of the Test . To stay and stand by HaShem's Commandments and Torah , no matter what , in whatever situation we find ourselves . The physical appearance around us is just that , a physical appearance . The True Truth , is the Destination of HaShem and His Torah . That alone is the only True Reality . So walk out of your Earth-bound physicality and " Vayeitzei " - " Depart , " by following HaShem and His Torah , toward your Only True Detination , HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He .
I wish HaShem with Deep and Beautiful Love , A Very Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh With Love and to all of Creation , A Very Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love .