VOLUME 108 NUMBER 7
Kislev 18, 5784
December 1, 2023
PARSHAS VAYISHLACH
Candlelighting Time 4:18 PM
After many long years of toil and aggravation at Lavan’s house, Yaakov finally begins his trek back to his parents. However, enroute he encounters his nemesis, Eisav who is prepared to wage war against him. Yaakov sends him gifts to assuage his anger that he took the blessings away from him. When he greets him he humbles himself and bows down repeatedly to show respect for him. And he makes an astounding statement. He clearly lets Eisav know that although he was in an environment not conducive to serving Hashem, he did not compromise even in the slightest and kept all the mitzvos in their entirety. Eisav should realize that he is confronting someone of prominent stature. He employs the language that he sojourned with Lavan but did not dwell with him. Why did Yaakov decide to refer to his two decades of living with Lavan as a sojourn, indicating that he didn’t really reside with Lavan? Chasam Sofer poses this question and his answer is extremely appropriate in today’s confused world that is infused with hatred and revulsion for us. The poisonous darts of their vitriolic speech inundates the masses and serves only one purpose, to increase antisemitism on the world stage.
He cites a very interesting Rashi. Rashi quotes from the Midrash when we say in Shema that we should place these words on our hearts even during our exile from Israel. For example, we must be cautious to fulfill the mitzvos of Tefillin and placing a Mezuzah on our doorposts. Nachmonides questions this because these mitzvos are incumbent upon us whether we are in Israel or otherwise displaced.
Chasam Sofer explains a principle defining how we view people. There are two dynamics comprising each individual. Perhaps first and foremost is our intellectual capacity to either accept or reject the situation that we find ourselves to be in. Secondly, there is our physical location obviously based upon where we are geographically positioned. He proposes that even though we may find ourselves to be physically located in one area, if our mindset is focused upon our principal existence as being elsewhere, then where we are is actually determined by our fixated attention. Therefore, although we may physically force someone to be in a place that is undesirable to him, since his mind is really fixated as being elsewhere, then that is where he truly is.
Subsequently, even when we are exiled from our homeland, if we maintain our connection to Hashem redolent of our relationship when we had the opportunity to be in Israel, then truly we are not exiled but rather fully attached and strongly connected to the Land of Israel. Therefore, in Shema when we sincerely place the words of Shema on our hearts and fulfill our obligations elsewhere as though we are in Israel, then we are truly there.
When Yaakov was forced to escape Eisav’s wrath and unfortunately live with Lavan for many years, he never surrendered his heart and passion from the Land of Israel. He truthfully never left and always yearned to return to that special place. Therefore, he sojourned all that time by Lavan but really never lived there.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Yaakov forcibly humbled himself before Eisav when he encountered him. Rav Chaim Soloveitchik understood this lesson well and during the first World War when he encountered soldiers he would greet them appropriately. He explained that if they would become angered with his disrespect then they might kill him.
CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABBOS
AT THIS TIME, WE PRAISE HASHEM WHO HAS SENT OUR NATION, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ERETZ YISROEL, A DEGREE OF SALVATION. ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL IN ANGUISH AND PAIN FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN BEHIND IN CAPTIVITY, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY TO HASHEM THE SOURCE OF OUR BLESSINGS TO CONTINUE TO ASSIST US AND BRING ALL OF THEM HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. IY”H THE SOLDIERS THAT REMAIN ON GUARD TO PROTECT US FROM OUR ENEMIES SHOULD ALL COME HOME SAFE.
