This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayishlach – וַיִּשְׁלַח (Genesis 32:4−36:43)
Vayishlach recounts the homecoming of our ancestor Jacob. After having spent twenty years working far away for his uncle Laban, Jacob is about to return home to Canaan. It is there that he will reunite with his family, including his brother, Esau, who twenty years earlier intended to kill him because Jacob deceived their blind father and stole Esau’s blessing. Jacob is running now from his uncle, who is also his father-in-law, and who accuses Jacob of stealing his money and his idols. If you thought your family had issues, enjoy reading Torah about our ancestral family.
Parsha Vayishlach – וַיִּשְׁלַח 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)
Vayishlach – וַיִּשְׁלַח
Vayishlach recounts the homecoming of our ancestor Jacob. After having spent twenty years working far away for his uncle Laban, Jacob is about to return home to Canaan. It is there that he will reunite with his family, including his brother, Esau, who twenty years earlier intended to kill him because Jacob deceived their blind father and stole Esau’s blessing. Jacob is running now from his uncle, who is also his father-in-law, and who accuses Jacob of stealing his money and his idols. If you thought your family had issues, enjoy reading Torah about our ancestral family.
