Vayishlach
Parshat Vayishlach
In this portion, Jacob and Esau are reunited. After 20 years, there is a tremendous amount of tension as to how they will react to seeing each other. Because of this trepidation, Jacob has a dream the night before the reunion in which he wrestles with an angel. As a result of that Jacob becomes Israel and is blessed. This gives him courage to meet his brother.
First Aliyah: Genesis chapter 32:4-13 pp. 198-199
Jacob sends messengers ahead to Esau to inform him of his arrival. The messengers return and tell Jacob that Esau has 400 men with him. Jacob divides his camp into two and prays to God for protection.
Second Aliyah: 32:14-30 pp. 200-202
Jacob prepares a gift for Esau; 200 goats, 20 he-goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 camels, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 donkeys and 10 foals. On this night Jacob is alone and wrestles with an angel. At dawn the angel blesses him and changes his name to Israel.
Third Aliyah: 32:31-33:5 pp. 202-204
The Torah tells us that Jacob was injured in the thigh and because of that we don’t eat the thigh portion to this day. Jacob meets Esau. Jacob bows down seven times and Esau runs up to him, hugs him and kisses him. In the Torah, there are dots over the word for "he kissed him".
Fourth Aliyah: 33:6-20 pp. 204-206
During their brief encounter, Esau offers Jacob gifts; he offers to travel with Jacob, and he even offers some of his servants to travel with Jacob. On all counts, Jacob refuses. At the end of this Aliyah, Jacob arrives in Shechem and buys the portion of land from the sons of Hamor. This is the second description of the purchase of land in the Torah.
Fifth Aliyah: 34:1-35:11 pp. 206-213
Shechem, one of the sons of Hamor, has a relationship with Jacob’s only daughter, Dinah. As a result, Shechem proposes that Jacob’s family and Shechem’s family agree to intermarry. Dinah’s brothers say that if they agree to circumcise themselves then they will agree to intermarry. While they are recovering, Shimon and Levi kill all the males of Shechem and confiscate all the animals. God tells Jacob to move to Beth El and build an altar there. Jacob informs his family and tells them to get rid of all the idols in their possession. They move, Jacob dedicates the altar, and God reaffirms Jacob’s new name being Israel.
Sixth Aliyah: 35:12-36:19 pp. 213-218
God reaffirms the patriarchal blessing to Jacob. Jacob and the family then travel to Ephrath. On the way, Rachel gives birth to Benjamin, then dies. Rachel is buried there and not in the cave with the other patriarchs and matriarchs. They finally arrive back home with Isaac, and Isaac dies. Esau and Jacob bury their father. We then have a list of descendants of Esau.
Seventh Aliyah: 36:20-43 pp. 218-220
The list continues with a list of the kings in the land of Edom. The Torah states that these are the kings who ruled before there were kings in Israel.
Maftir: 36:40-43 p. 220
Haftorah: Hosea 11:7-12:12 pp. 195-197
Hosea uses images from Jacob’s life; the rivalry with Esau, the fight with the angel to urge the people to be better. Jacob overcame hardship, so too can the people of Israel.
10881 Lockwood Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20901 P: (301) 593-3410 F: (301) 593-0280
Page Maintained By: webmaster@shaaretefila.org. Site by HG Interactive.