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Torah Tidbits - Study Judaism with Rabbi Rapport and Rabbi David. Ki Tisa Tetzaveh Pekudei Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)The opening word of Leviticus that gives the book and this first parashah its name is Vayikra Tazria Metzorah Achrei Mot Emor B’har B’hukotai Sh’lach L’cha Korach Matot Masei D'varim Va-et’chanan Eikev Nitzavim Chayei Sarah Tol'dot Mishpatim

Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayishlach – וַיִּשְׁלַח (Genesis 32:4-36:43)

Jacob is left alone, on his journey home, on the night before his momentous meeting with his brother whom he has always cheated and deceived. He wrestles with a man, an Ish, all that night. Neither wrestler can overcome the other, and when the dawn breaks, Jacob receives his new name Yisrael, which will become our name, the name of the Children of Israel forever.

Who was this mysterious wrestler who encountered Jacob in the night? Was it an angel sent by God with the blessing of a new name; was it Esau his brother, come to test him in the night; or perhaps it was all a dream and this is Jacob wrestling with himself, the deceiver he has been and the better soul he knows he can become? All the Torah tells us is that Jacob wrestled with an Ish.

But something about this story sounds familiar. There is another man, another Ish, who Jacob’s son Joseph encounters on a journey of his own. Joseph meets a “man in the field” an Ish Basadeh, who directs him towards his brothers and begins the incredible journey which will lead Joseph to be sold into slavery and cast into prison, only then to rise and become second only to Pharaoh, saving all of Egypt from famine, and bringing his family down to Egypt as well.

Could Jacob’s Ish and Joseph’s Ish Basadeh be one and the same? The mystical mathematics of gematria gives us a clue. Based on the numerical value of the letters of each of the words we can learn: איש (Ish) equals 311 and בשדה (Basadeh) equals 311 as well. A convenient coincidence don’t you see, particularly when you add the Hebrew word for “equals”, שוה (Shaveh) the numerical value of which equals 311 as well.

Jacob encounters a person on his journey to find his destiny. Joseph encounters a person on his journey to find his own. Each of us has encountered such a person who directed us on our own life’s journey. Each of us can be that person for those we meet and those whose lives we touch. Perhaps it was an angel who Jacob wrestled with that night. Perhaps we too are angels, messengers of the Holy One, as well.

Parsha Vayishlach Torah Summary:

Jacob prepares to meet Esau. He wrestles with a “man,” who changes Jacob’s name to Israel. (32:4-33) Jacob and Esau meet and part peacefully, each going his separate way. (33:1-17) Dinah is raped by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, who was chief of the country. Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi take revenge by murdering all the males of Shechem, and Jacob’s other sons join them in plundering the city. (34:1-31) Rachel dies giving birth to Benjamin and is buried in Ephrah, which is present-day Bethlehem. (35:16-21) Isaac dies and is buried in Hebron. Jacob’s and Esau’s progeny are listed. (35:22-36:43) This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayishlach – וַיִּשְׁלַח (Genesis 32:4-36:43)

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