Vayishlach in a Nutshell

Would you say the Yaakov had bitachon? Seems like he need repeated reassurances and promises. Something we only receive today through Torah transmission. Reply

Reuben lost his first birthright. The priesthood therefore went to Levi and the kingship to Judah. Why to these two brothers? Reply

Dinah is raped by one man and the result is that all the males of the city are killed. I have always struggled with this as the punishment does not seem to fit the crime. As we have learned in many other parts of the Torah, there are usually some righteous (or even one righteous) people in every community. Reply

I would like to know why you say that the "angel" embodies the "soul of Esav", what in this text or in other commentaries makes you say that ?

Thank you in advance Reply

Didn't say anything about who the mysterious guy was (good parasha and interesting one but very confusing) Reply

I would like to know what happened to Dinah after her incident in Shechem...
she is not mentioned again... Reply

The angel as Esav? Jacob is said to have encountered an angel "that embodies the spirit of Esau"- where does that come from? There is nothing in the text that says the angel embodied the spirt of Esav. Reply

Parsha in a Nutshell I just wanted thank you profusely for your "parshah in a nutshell". I print this out every week.
Being the first in in 3 generations to be a Shomer Shabbos Jew. Never was raised with any yiddishkit I am so grateful especially for "parsha in a nutshell". I read this first than with a overview of the parshah I can have a better understand the parshah.

Once again than you. Reply

the life of Yaakov shows that despite all his difficulties demonstrate that HaShem help those who love him and trust in Him Reply

Imperfect Environments Isn't the writing really about how to deal with injustice? Sometimes there are just rules that don't seem to make sense. Why would one child receive more than another (just because it is born 1st-Wouldn't you just give each the same?) Then it seems to deal with the problems of differing value systems and intelligence. I can see giving a child with a much higher intelligence property/wealth to manage for another of lesser (but still giving both equal amounts)

I have dealt with differing value systems all my life; and I have never attempted to fight them - even though the harm levels have been astronomical. I now believe you should never live among or beside differing ones (if there is another option) And you should sue harm, instead of physically fight - except in cases of self defense. Then you can do both.

Teaching self defense to temples is very important; & nothing that has happened in my life. Why not replace the harm w a person of the same name - but correct behavior w legal pymt Reply

Eric's Responce frm Franklin Mii Dec2,2011 This makes so much for your enlightenment on the topic. Thank you Eric.
I would like to see more updated comments as it helps the Newly converted student understand better from the advanced learned an is appreciated thanks for sharing all of you as well as those who will share. Reply

Shimeon, Levi They were grown-up men, fully responsible when they did what were wrong in the eyes of their father. Jacob immediatley rebuked them (Genesis 34:30), but they not accepted his words (ibid. 31). Jacob so intesly refuse their extremity, that he actually cursed their anger before his death (49:5-7). All can be easily understood, if we concentrate his words. He said, they made him socially unacceptable before the people of the land. So he made such an unproportional anger and wrath socially unacceptable for Israel. Reply

The power of the will; of self awareness; of a life of learning Yaakov was born as Yaakov (as deceiver) but struggled throughout his to become Yisrael. And so the struggle to become Yisrael continues with each of us! Reply

Yakovs name The name Yackov doesnt mean deciever. It means smart or intelligent. As onklos translates esauv's complaint, "he 'yakcveini' these two times" as "he 'chachmeini/outsmarted me these two times"
In other books as well the name Yackov is described as being interchangeable with the word chachmah/wisdom. Reply

So I have a question. is there a later punishment of Simeon and Levi for the murder of all males in retaliation for the rape of Dinah? If so is this discussed in a later parshah? Thank you. Reply

Jacob not a deceiver I find it frustrating that people buy into the libel that Jacob was a deceiver. The Torah clearly says 'and his hand had hold on Esau's heel. And his name was called Jacob.' In other words, his name is 'heel-grabber' as the etymology suggests. It is wrong to repeat Esau's libel, who made a play on Jacob's name, saying 'Is not he rightly name Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times.' Esau follows up this calumny with a bold-faced lie: 'He took away my birthright.' The Torah has its own verdict on this too, saying 'Esau despised his birthright.' Reply

vayishlach True Yaackov's name does mean deceiver, but just who is he supposed to deceive? I think he was deceiving himself, for he had to know just who he was in relation with Hashem (G-d). Not only did he remain behind for a peace of pottery but He fought and defeated the spirit of Eisav which could also be that which was also inside of him hence the name Israel. From this we learn that we all have that same battle to fight and win every day. I Believe that only when we stop battling each other and concentrate on the evil within ourselves will Moshiach come. Reply

cultural obscurities The comments on Levi and Shimon are good; they bring out the question, why they could do as they did, even before the giving of the Torah.
I do not have an answer; I was not present. However, as I see from what I learned in my studies of cultural rules and behavior, I noticed that if it is difficult to deal with an idea or behavior in a certain way, people grow up unable to understand how or why others can.
This is one example; the Jewish/Christian difference on the Unity of G-d. You can read what you want to your friend, of the other culture, and you may get a blank stair back for your efforts. Why? Because even though you both speak the same language, the words you use for your acceptance of certain ideas are, psychologically, different.
This is why it is important to not judge another culture, as there are things we may not understand, cannot have the full understanding of the "why?"
Thank you. Shalom. Reply

Dinah etc. I believe that one of the commandments is that if a man rapes a woman then he must marry her if she so desires. As archaic as this may seem, it does seem to give the victim the final say.Why a woman would want to marry he who assaulted her is beyond my imagination. That being said, there are many of the 613 that I do not understand. However, no where is it written that I have to understand the commandments, I just have to do them. Reply