Vayeishev #1- Suffering smells

In this weeks Parsha, Parsha Vayeishev Yosef is sold. Yosef must have had many emotional difficulties during this time from being separated from his father, as well as being thrown into a pit, and sold to the Mitzrim. Despite the many hardships the Pasuk says 

25. And they sat down to eat a meal, and they lifted their eyes and saw, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, and their camels were carrying spices, balm, and lotus, going to take [it] down to Egypt.

כה. וַיֵּשְׁבוּ לֶאֱכָל לֶחֶם וַיִּשְׂאוּ עֵינֵיהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ וְהִנֵּה אֹרְחַת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִים בָּאָה מִגִּלְעָד וּגְמַלֵּיהֶם נֹשְׂאִים נְכֹאת וּצְרִי וָלֹט הוֹלְכִים לְהוֹרִיד מִצְרָיְמָה:

Was it really necessary to mention that a caravan was coming towards them? These times were so difficult for Yosef, why would he even notice a small detail such as this? 

Rashi explains that caravans usually had bad smells, but Hashem made sure that this caravan in specific didn't smell bad because a tzadik would be inside of it. Therefore, the smell of the caravan did not bother Yosef. 

The Zichron Meir comes to expand on Rashis answer and says that if Hashem wants a certain person to undergo suffering, once that suffering is complete he will suffer no more. Yosef needed to suffer through shame and slavery, but not that of a bad smell. Therefore Hashem made sure that the caravan did not smell.

What other possibilities are there as to why the small detail of a caravan is mentioned in the Pasuk?

Vayishlach #6- Enemy or Brother?

In Parshat VaYishlach, Yaakov and Esav reunite for the first time in several years. The last time they saw each other was when Yaakov tricked Yitzchak into giving him the Bechorah. As one can imagine, Yakkov is nervous for this encounter and asks Hashem for protection from his brother, Esav.

(יב:בל) “עשו מיד אחי מיד נא הציליני”

“Rescue me, please, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Eisav.” (32:12)

There is something unusual, however, in this Pasuk. The Pasuk states that Yaakov is asking both protection from his brother and protection from Esav. Rather than just saying rescue me from my brother or rescue me from Esav. Esav IS Yaakov’s brother! So why is there a need for both?

Rashi approaches this question by saying that Esav did not act as though he was Yaakov’s brother. Rather, he conducted himself in a wicked manner and therefore, the pasuk included both terms.

We know that there are no extraneous words in the Torah, so what is the meaning of this? Could they possibly be referring to two different people/concepts? According to Rashi, the Torah includes both terms because Esav was evil but they were still brothers despite Esav’s wickedness, so what could this mean? Why else would the Chumash include both from my brother and from Esav?

Vayishlach #5- Did Esav love Yaakov?

ד. וַיָּרָץ עֵשָׂו לִקְרָאתוֹ וַיְחַבְּקֵהוּ וַיִּפֹּל עַל צַוָּארָיו כתיב צוארו וַֹיִֹשָֹׁקֵֹהֹוֹּ וַיִּבְכּוּ
4. And Esau ran toward him and embraced him, and he
fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Rashi says there are dots on this word and there is a disagreement about this matter. Some explain the dots tell us that Esau did not kiss Yaakov full heartedly. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says it is a given law and it is known that Esau hates Jacob. But at this time his mercy was aroused and he kissed him with all his whole heart.

Why would Esav kiss Yaakov full heartedly if he hates him? Does Esav still hate Yaakov after 22 years of not seeing him? What is another opinion on why there are dots above the word וַֹיִֹשָֹׁקֵֹהֹוֹּ?

Vayishlach #4- Frightened AND distressed?!

In Parshat Viyishlach, Yaakov avinu frantically prepares his family for what he believes will be a deadly attack from his brother, Esav. The angels told Yaakov that Esav was coming with 400 men, and all Yaakov had was his sheep, camels, cattle, and all his family.

The passuk teaches us, “Jacob became very frightened and was distressed; so he divided the people who were with him and the flocks and the cattle and the camels into two camps”(32:8)

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, asks a brilliant question: Why was Yaakov “distressed” that he might have to kill Esav or one of his four-hundred wicked men? This is surely a time of simcha! The opportunity to rid the world of evil is in Yaakov’s hands!

Why does the passuk need to say that Yaakov was both “frightened” and “distressed”? 

Vayishlach #3- what's in a name?

In Perek 32, Pasuk 29, it says:

"ויאמר לא יעקב יאמר עוד שמך כי אם ישראל"

 And he said, your name shall not no longer be Yaakov, but will be Yisrael.

Rashi says it is changed to no longer be said the blessings came through trickery, but rather through nobility and openness and in the end, Hashem will revel Himself to Yaakov in Beit Eil and change his name and Hashem will bless him.

What might be a reason for why Yaakov’s name was changed to Yisrael? What makes him special enough to be one of the few who gets their names changed by Hashem?  

Vayishlach #2- bowing to Esav?

This weeks Parsha describes the meeting between Yaakov and Esav after many years of separation. Yaakov is understandably apprehensive about this encounter, and when he sees Esav, he bows in front of him 7 times. 

Commentators discuss whether or not this was a good decision in light of the following pasuk: (Perek 27) כט  יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים, וישתחו (וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ) לְךָ לְאֻמִּים--הֱוֵה גְבִיר לְאַחֶיךָ, וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ; אֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר, וּמְבָרְכֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ.

 Hashem tells Yaakov (as Esav) that the nations of the world will worship him.

In light of this pasuk, isn’t Yaakov going against his bracha? Was it a good decision to bow to Esav or was it just appeasement? 

Vayishlach #1- how many stones?

When Yaakov was ready to lie down to sleep next to the ladder the Torah writes that he:

“VAYIKACH ME’AVNE HAMAKOM”, = he took from the stones of the place which he arranged around his head.

And when he awoke he

“VAYIKACH ET HA’EVEN”, = he took the stone that he placed around his head.

Question – why when he went to sleep there were many stones, but when he woke up there was only one?

Rashi's Answer – Brings up what the Midrash answers and says, The stones were fighting with each other, they each wanted the holyness of Yaakovs head resting on them. Hashem then made them into one stone.

*doesn't sound so realistic – meant to teach us a message: there are many different types of Jews but when it comes down to it, we're all united. We are all responsible for each other and should try to be like the single stone that Yaakov awoke to find.

What are some other explanations as to why when Yaakov went to sleep there were many stones, but when he woke up there was only one?