בּ"ה
Parshas Vayeitzei
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‘And he encountered the place’* (Bereishis 28:11)
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Our Sages teach us that Yaakov Avinu instituted the Maariv prayer, and that means, explains Rebbe Elimelech Biderman shlit”a, that we can connect with Hashem through this tefillah. But there is a deeper implication too, he says: Yaakov established this tefillah at a very difficult moment in his life. He was running away from Esav and going to exile, to outside the Land of Israel. He was about to meet with Lavan, and, knowing his crooked ways, was concerned about what would happen to him (see Rashi zt”l on 28:15). By establishing a tefillah at this time, it teaches us that it is possible to connect with Hashem at all times, even during the most difficult moments of one's life.
Tefillas Maariv is said at nighttime, furthermore, which represents hardships and difficulties. For even then, we can pray, and Hashem will hear our prayers. Hashem isn't only present when we are living in Eretz Yisroel and life is shining and good. Yaakov Avinu showed us that at all times, and under all circumstances, it is possible to speak with Hashem and to connect with Him.
(Torah Wellsprings)
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* See Rashi zt”l on this verse, to the word ויפגע.
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‘And he lay down in that place.’ (Bereishis 28:11)
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Explains Rashi zt”l from Midrash Bereishis Rabbah: The phrase ‘in that place’, is a language that means to tell us that he lay down ‘in that place’, but for the 14 years that he served in the Yeshiva of [likely Shem] and Ever, he didn’t lie down at night because he was engaged in Torah study.
Although this is not necessarily a recommended thing to try in our own lives, it shows us a great thing: We all have such incredible potential, so much so that we do not even know the extent of it! A person would probably not even think that they are capable of not sleeping for a few years, let alone fourteen. But here we see that Yaakov Avinu did so!
This amazing potential, capability, and willpower is within us all, and we can hardly imagine the heights we can reach and the things we can do and achieve. Indeed think about how the people possibly survived the terrible tortures of the Holocaust. . .
HaKadosh Baruch Hu has endowed us all with such power, and if we put in our own effort, and with His Help of course, we can do amazing, amazing things and reach the highest heights.
(Tal U’Matar)
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‘And he encountered the place (בּמקוֹם), and he stayed the night there, because the sun had set; and he took from the stones of the place (המקוֹם) and he put [them] at his head, and he lay down in that place (בּמקוֹם ההוּא).’ (Bereishis 28:11)
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As we are taught, this place was Har HaMoriah, where the Beis HaMikdash would later stand. Now, three times in this verse, the Baal HaTurim notes, the word ‘מקום’, ‘place’ is used. This alludes to the Shalosh Rigalim (Pesach, Shavuos, and Sukkos), when Yaakov’s children [the Jews] would go up to that place.
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‘And Yaakov awoke from his sleep, and he said; “Indeed, Hashem is in this place. . . !’ (Bereishis 28:16)
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A person who awakens from their sleep, says Rebbe Meir’l of Premishlan zt”l, it is upon them to strengthen themselves like a lion to the service of the Creator, His Name is Blessed, as is explained in the beginning of Shulchan Aruch.
And this is like what it says in the (above) verse: ‘And Yaakov awoke from his sleep, and he said; “Indeed, Hashem is in this place!’ -- immediately when Yaakov Avinu woke up from his sleep, he turned to the Service of Hashem.
(Cited in Vi’Karasa L’Shabbos Oneg)
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‘For I am not able to rise before you because the way of women is to me.’ (Bereishis 31:35)
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Rachel Imeinu had stolen Lavan’s idols, and hid them in her saddlebag (see Rashi zt”l to 31:19, however, who brings that it was to keep Lavan from serving them).
But when Lavan came, she obviously couldn’t get up, because then he would find the idols right under her! So she told him that she was a Niddah at the time. But, as far as we know, she wasn’t, and therefore, seemingly she was lying!
Explains the Vilna Gaon {HaRav Eliyahu Kramer zt”l}; no. Rachel Imeinu was not lying, Chas V’Shalom. Rather, the Mishnah (Shabbos 82a) teaches that Avodah zarah makes impure like Niddah. Thus, he explains beautifully, when Rachel Imeinu sat upon the idols, she came into a state of tumah (impurity) almost like she was Niddah!
(Quoted in Maayanah Shel Torah)
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|~Maaseh~| The Midrash relates a story that there were once a lot of non-Jews and one Jew traveling on a ship together. The ship arrived at an island and the non-Jewish travelers gave money to the Jew to go buy food, etc.
The Jew asked why he should go; after all, he was a stranger on the island as well! And he didn’t know anyone there…
The others replied that this was not true: He wasn’t alone. Hashem is with him. As the Torah says (Devarim 4:7), ‘For who is a great nation that G-d is so close to it, like Hashem our G-d is…’ Hashem is always close to him, so therefore, he should go.
(Brought in Torah Wellsprings)
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Gut and meaningful Shabbos to all!
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