Vayetzei 5765

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Vayetzei (Genesis 28:10-32:3 )

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GOOD MORNING!   Why are the Jewish people called "Yehudim"? When our matriarch Leah gave birth to her fourth child she called him "Yehuda" to give thanks to the Almighty that He had given her more than her share. Jacob had 4 wives and there was a prophecy that he would have 12 sons - so Leah gave thanks that the Almighty gave her more than her share (4 sons and not just 3 sons). Likewise, the Jewish people are grateful to the Almighty for giving us abundant blessings.


One has a choice in life to choose his attitude. How we view events depends on our past experiences and how we have trained ourselves to view what happens to us. One can see the glass half full or half empty - and that does not have to depend on whether one is pouring the water or drinking the water! Some people might even look at the glass as being too big for the amount of water...


The Torah strongly emphasizes the character trait of gratitude both in the examples of our forefathers and in the commandments set forth for us to fulfill. When the Jews crossed the Yom Soof (the Sea of Reeds often mistakenly called the Red Sea) the first thing they did was to sing a song of thanks to the Almighty for saving them from the Egyptians. Farmers are instructed to bring up to Jerusalem the first fruits that their trees produce (when they would spot the buds they would tie a ribbon around the branch to remember which one). (For more examples, please ... read the Torah!)


The Sages of the Talmud set forth a practical daily program - our own personal training program - to develop the character trait of gratitude. The first words we utter in the morning are the "Modeh Ani":

"I give thanks before You, ever living and eternal King, that You have returned to me my soul in compassion. Great is Your faithfulness."


Three times a day - the morning, the afternoon, the night - a Jew stops his activity to focus on the Almighty to give thanks and to make requests. Three times a day we train on bringing a spiritual element into how to view life. (You might want to buy an Artscroll Siddur, prayer book - available at your local Jewish bookstore, at judaicaenterprises.com or by calling toll-free to 877-758-3242.)


In the morning prayer service we start out with a series of blessings thanking the Almighty for: our eyes, that we can see, that we can move our bodies, that we have clothes and shoes, that we have another opportunity to do the Almighty's will and fulfil His commandments to perfect ourselves and His world.


In Pirkei Avos (Ethics of the Fathers) 4:1, Ben Zoma asks, "Who is the rich person?" and he answers, "One who is happy in his portion." If you want to be happy in your portion then you have to focus on your portion. Make a list of all that you have to be grateful for: that you can breathe, that you can see, that you can hear, that you can think. Constantly review and add to the list. And thank the Almighty for what you have.


I have a friend who has a serious life threatening medical situation. Any moment he could die (then again, any moment ANY of us could die!). When I ask him, "How are you?" He always replies with a happy laugh, "It's a great day to be alive! Every day you look at the grass from the top down is a great day!"


Life is filled with difficulties, but it is also filled with joys. If we focus that each second is good then we have minutes of good seconds. And if we focus on each minute being good we have hours of good minutes. And if we focus on the good hours we have days of good hours - and eventually we have a great life!


When I visited the Holocaust Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was most moved by an audio testimony. A man spoke: "One day I saw my friend Chaim praying. It was too late for the morning service and too early for the afternoon service. I asked him, 'Chaim, what are you praying?' He responded, 'I am thanking God.' I asked him, 'Chaim, look around you, you're in a death camp, people are being tortured and dying. What do you possibly have to thank God for?' Replies Chaim, 'I am thanking God I am one of us and not one of them.' "


It's your choice and in your power how you view life.


Torah Portion of the Week
Vayetzei

This week we have the trials and tribulations of Jacob living with and working for his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob agreed to work as a shepherd 7 years for Rachel only to have Laban switch daughters on him at the marriage ceremony. (This is why we have the bedekin, the lifting of the veil, at traditional weddings - to ensure one is marrying the right bride.)


As Jacob tries to build his equity, Laban changes their agreement time after time. After 20 years, the Almighty tells Jacob the time has come to return to the land of Canaan. Jacob and his household secretly leave only to be pursued by Laban who has claims to put forth. The story ends with peace and blessings between Jacob and Laban.

 

Dvar Torah
based on Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

On the way to his uncle Laban in Charan, the Torah tells us:

"Jacob vowed a vow saying: If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go..." (Genesis 28:20)

What did Jacob mean that the Almighty should "keep me in this way that I go"?


The Midrash (Braishis Rabbah 70:4) explains that Jacob's request was that God might keep him from speaking loshon hora - derogatory speech (gossip, tale bearing). The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, writes that we should learn two lessons from Jacob's behavior:


  1. When we find ourselves in physical danger, we should be expecially careful not to speak loshon hora. When one is in danger and needs God's help to be saved, loshon hora may discourage God from extending His assistance. For this reason, knowing that his uncle was a cunning man, Jacob requested to be saved from speaking loshon hora (Shimas Haloshon 2:10).


  2. When we find ourselves in danger of speaking against other people, we should pray to God to save us from loshon hora. Jacob was on his way to Laban's house and feared that he would be detrimentally influenced by him; hence, his request to be saved from speaking loshon hora.

CANDLE LIGHTING - November 19:
(or go to http://www.aish.com/candlelighting)

Jerusalem  4:03
Guatemala 5:11  Hong Kong 5:21  Honolulu 5:29
J'Burg 6:19  London 3:47  Los Angeles 4:27
Melbourne 6:52  Miami 5:12  Moscow 4:00

New York 4:17  Singapore  6:35



QUOTE OF THE WEEK:


Let your attitude be gratitude!

In Loving Memory of
Sara Sterental
May her family be comforted

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