December 2, 2022 | 8 Kislev, 5783 | Torah Portion: Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10-32:3 | Haftorah: Hosea 12:13-14:10
Torah Portion
This Week: Vayeitzei
TorahMedia Audio
Recent Additions
Torah Portion & Holidays
That Fallen Tree
And Yaakov left Beer-Sheva, and he went to Charan. (Brieshis 28:10)
And Yaakov left: Scripture had only to write: “And Yaakov went to ...read more
Pulling the Plug – Gently
Yaakov left Beersheva, and went towards Charan. He encountered the place, and spent the night there, because the sun had set.[1]
We are well ...read more
In the Merit of Yaakov’s Walking Stick
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand's Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1139 – ...read more
Out in the Public
Our father Jacob was a very strong and powerfully physical person. We read of his physical prowess in his previous encounter with the shepherds ...read more
A Time to Be Silent
This week we read the parsha of Va'yaitzay--"And Yaakov left from Be'er Sheva and went to Charan. [28:10]" In search of a wife, Yaakov headed to ...read more
Respect of the Sanctuary: On Sacred Ground
The Mitzvah: The house of G-d necessitates respect and awe, as the verse proclaims "My Sanctuary you shall fear" (Leviticus 19:30). One could ...read more
Asleep on Hallowed Ground
If the image of Jacob's ladder was not the most spectacular prophetic vision ever, it certainly comes close. In his dream, Jacob saw a ladder ...read more
A Perfect Marriage
After his dream of "The Ladder", Yaakov (Jacob) finally arrived at his destination of Aram Naharayim, birthplace of his mother, Rivka (Rebecca) ...read more
Haftorah Commentary Parshas Vayeitzei
Hoshea 12:13 - 14:10
This week's haftorah is devoted to the Jewish nation's severe plunge into idolatry. The Judean kingdom ultimately ...read more
Trading Places on the Ladder of Life
This Week's RRR (Relevant Religious Reference): "Do not judge your fellow until you have arrived at his/her place" - Hillel in Ethics of the ...read more
Other Articles
Chapter 3, Mishna 15(a): Masking Holiness – Part I
Rabbi Elazar of Modin said, one who desecrates sacred objects, one who disgraces the festivals, one who shames his fellow in public, one who ...read more
Chapter 1, Law 4 – Minefields and Hidden Consequences
Even though teshuva (repentance) atones all and the day of Yom Kippur atones, there are sins which are expiated at the time [the person sins], ...read more
Chapter 3, Mishna 14: The Living Dead
Rabbi Dosa ben (son of) Hur'kenus said: Late morning sleep, wine in the afternoon, the chatter of the youth, and sitting in the gathering places ...read more
Chapter 1, Law 3 – Yom Kippur and Natural Souls
In times when there is no Temple and we have no altar of atonement, there is only repentance. Repentance atones for all sins. Even one [who is] ...read more
Chapter 3, Mishna 13: G-d Fashioned In The Image of Man
"He [Rabbi Chanina] used to say, anyone who is pleasing to his fellows is pleasing to G-d. Anyone who is not pleasing to his fellows is not ...read more
In The Beginning…
"At first the Almighty created the heavens and the earth." (Bereshith 1:1)
One would expect that the opening words of the Torah would express ...read more
A Tallis without Tzitzis
A woman once approached a well-known rav, requesting to wear a tallis for tefillah. To the woman's great joy, the rav replied that he permitted ...read more
Stranger’s Cup
QUESTION 33: USING A STRANGER'S CUP FOR YADAYIM
At my company's pantry, I wanted to wash for bread, but didn't have a cup. There was a ...read more
Men and Women in Jewish Relationships Part I
The Western world, the culture we live in, has considerable difficulty with the concept of sexual intimacy. One indication is the culture's ...read more
Obligation or Privilege?: Part III
Student Comments and Questions
This week's class features student responses to "Women in Judaism: Obligation or Privilege", which appeared ...read more
