Parsha Talk Vayishlach 5785 2024

Parashat Va-yishlach [Genesis 32:4–36:43] features the actions Jacob takes in preparation for his meeting with Esau after 20 years, the mysterious wrestling match with the מלאך [malakh, understood as a divine messenger or a human messenger], the actual meeting, the ravishing of Dinah [as Nahum Sarna entitles the episode], a theophany at Beth El, and the genealogy of Esau. It represents the concluding chapter for Isaac and Esau, as well as Deborah, the nurse of Rebecca, and Rachel, who dies shortly after giving birth to Benjamin, as he is renamed by his father. It was just Eliot and me this week. Jeremy is in Israel for the Rabbinical Assembly convention this week, but was under the weather, and thus unable to join us. We wish him a refu’ah sh’lemah, a speedy recovery, and look forward to next week when we hope that Jeremy is at full strength, as are we! Our conversation focused on the opening chapter of the parashah, as we sought out the meaning in Jacob’s preparation, and struggled to understand the significance of Jacob’s nocturnal encounter. We hope you enjoy it! We continue to be mindful of the hostages, may they be returned speedily to their families, and the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.